Her Mother’s Only Treasure
Would you rather be banished alone, or with your child? In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne we see a mother Hester Prynne be banished alone with her newborn daughter Pearl while the father Dimmesdale stays hidden from the sin. Pearl gives Hester life after being banished, and who knows what would have happened to Hester if there was no Pearl. Hester would have left town if she was alone and who knows where she would have ended up or if she would be alive. Pearl also gives Hester someone to be with instead of living alone in isolation. Also Pearl is the only thing not taken from Hester when she was banished and is considered her mother’s only treasure. Pearl gives Hester life after being banished and who knows where Hester would have ended up if there was no Pearl.
If there was no Pearl, Hester would have left town and started a new life. Hester would have gone off with mistress Hibbins and joined the witches in the forest. Hester herself confesses, “Had they taken her from me, I would willingly have gone with thee into the forest, and signed my name in the Blackmans book too, and that with my own blood” (Hawthorne 110). Pearl saved Hester from joining a bunch of witches which would have been worse than isolation with her daughter. Also witches at the time were being put to death so Pearl technically saved her mother’s life. Also by Hester staying around with Pearl it gives her the chance to redeem herself to the community and someone to be with.
Another reason why Pearl is a source of joy in Hester’s life is that she gives Hester someone to be with in isolation. Hester doesn’t have to live alone, which would be way worse than being with someone else. The narrator describes, “Mother and daughter stood together in the same circle of seclusion from human society” (Hawthorne 89). They were both being secluded from society but being together is most important. Nothing brings more joy to a mother than spending time with her daughter. Because Hester, “was banished, and as much alone as if she inhabited another sphere” (Hawthorne 80). Hester is completely separated from the rest of society and is alone but Pearl gives her someone to be with, talk with and spend time with as she spends her time in isolation. Pearl provides comfort for her mother, but most importantly she was the only thing not taken from her.
Everything is taken from Hester once she receives the letter A on her chest but the key to her redemption and joy. Pearl is the only possession Hester has left once she is isolated from society. Hester declares “‘God gave me the child!’ cried she. ‘He gave her in requital of all things else which ye had taken from me”’ (Hawthorne 106). Everything has been taken from Hester but her child and this gives her joy knowing that she won’t be taken. In Hester’s eyes Pearl is her gift from God so she represents good to her. The narrator describes Hester’s decision, “But she named the infant “Pearl” as being of great price- purchased with all she had- her mother’s only treasure” (Hawthorne 84). Pearl was the only thing Hester had left. She is her mother’s ‘only treasure’ and if she was taken from Hester, it would have ruined Hester. By Pearl staying with Hester, it gives her a chance of being a mother, and being able to spend time with her daughter, which are two very important things.
Pearl gives Hester life after being banished and who knows what would have happened to Hester if there was no Pearl. Pearl is nothing but a positive influence on Hester. First by giving her someone to be with, then giving her a reason to stay around and most importantly giving her a chance to be the mother of her child. Pearl is nothing but joy to her mother and improves her life in isolation by great lengths. With everything being taken from Hester, and being isolated from society, it is tough to find joy in life, but Pearl finds a way to give Hester the joy she needs.
