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Do children make their parents lives better or worse? In the novel the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Pearl has a huge impact on her mother Hester. From when she was born till the end of the novel Pearl changed the way Hester lived her life. Even though some people see Pearl as a negative impact in Hester’s life, Pearl is actually a positive impact in her mother’s’ life because Hester makes better decisions, Hester is happier with Pearl, and Pearl has been a constant in Hester’s life.

Since Pearl has been alive, Hester has made better decisions with her life. At one point in the novel Pearl is almost taken away from Hester for two reasons. One reason Pearl is almost taken is because people believe she is a child sent by the devil to ruin the lives of Hester and everyone else in the Puritan town. While the other reason is because since Hester is a sinner, she should be seen as unfit to parent a child. After Hester and others plead their case on why or why not Hester should keep Pearl, they come to a conclusion. This being that Hester should indeed be allowed to keep Pearl. While Hester is walking out Mistress Hibbins asks hester to go to a witching. Hester then answers with “I would if Pearl was taken away”(Hawthorne 95). This is evidence that Hester is making better choices for one reason. If Pearl was taken away from Hester, Hester indirectly says that if she did get Pearl taken away from her, she would have, in fact, went with the witches even though she knows that it is bad. Another example of how Hester is making better choices because she has Pearl , is how Hester is now doing charity work. If Pearl was never born, and Hester was never casted away from society, Hester would have never helped with charity. No one knows where she would have been, maybe sinning with other men, but since Pearl has entered her life, Hester has tried to be a good example to Pearl. With all of this being said, this is a prime example of how in Hester’s life Pearl is a positive impact on her life.

Throughout the time Pearl has been born Hester may not look as happy as she was on the outside, but on the inside she is happier than she was before Pearl was born. Hester, on the outside does not looks as happy, but for good reason. If Hester is seen to be happy, people, such as other women, will now be doing other things, such as adultery. This is due to the fact that  Hester did it and has no real punishment, and looks happy then other women will look and see that by doing that your life will just be happier. The letter A is suppose to be a punishment, but Hester turns the meaning from Adultery to able. Now on to Pearl, the reason that Hester is happier is when Hester is talking about Pearl she says. She is my happiness(Hawthorne 101). The fact that Hester is stepping up and not only saying that Pearl makes her happy, she is also standing up for Pearl in order to keep her. This is a important part of the novel because if Hester did not truly care about Pearl she might have not argued to keep Pearl, she might have just let her go. Another reason we know that Pearl keeps Hester happy is because, Hester for the most part, does everything with Pearl. If Pearl physically working on it wither her, she is right near her either playing by herself outside, or doing something inside with her mother. Hester being happy was not Pearl’s focus at all, but just her presence in her mothers life is what made Hester a happier person.

Within Hester’s life, many things have been taken away from here, but one thing that has is Pearl. Overall many things have been taken away from Hester. Her dignity, and pride were taken away from her because she now has to whear the letter A for adultery on her chest. Hester was also publicly shamed and verbally assaulted in the streets, by pretty much everyone. Before Pearl became a real “person”(not a baby that can not talk or do anything)Hester also had all of her hope taken away from her life. Right as Pearl became a real person, she brought hope back into Hester’s life. The way Pearl brought hope back into Hester’s life is how; now Hester came up with the idea to go back to Europe and get away from all of the chaos and restart their lives, because she feel it is better for everyone.

Do children make their parents lives better or worse? Hope, happiness, and making good decisions is just some ways Pearl has brought positivity into Hester’s life. Even though many people see Pearl as a negative influence in Hester’s life, Pearl has actually been a great influence in Hester’s life, which has turned her into a happier, more confident person.