Angelic Pearl

Pearl is a child who torments Hester everyday. She is an extremely intelligent child, and it is rumored that she is possessed by a demon. She can be seen like a demon to some eyes, but she has an angelic side on her. Is like she was born for the only purpose to help her mother. Pearl is described by the narrator to be a masterpiece created by God, an excellent piece of art. Pearl is too intelligent for a three years old kid, making even her own mother question her existence, yet by finally accepting her as a human and not possessed by a demon. Pearl is truly an angel, and Hester’s only treasure. Pearl even saves her mother from being involved with the devil, and gives Hester a purpose to keep living and enduring all the torment that she receives. 

Hester treasures her only daughter like a true mother. All human beings when they are going through a difficult situation tend to cling to something, someone, or an idea. it can be religion, a loveable one, or something so special that makes that individual feel at ease. The only thing that Hester could cling onto is her daughter. From the moment that Pearl was born, she was Hester ‘s everything. A glimmer of hope in Hester’s life that had become amiss.“She named the infant ‘Pearl’, as being of great price-purchased with all she had-her mothers’ only treasure!” (Hawthrone 62). Hester had no purpose, but her Pearl gave her that. Her daughter was the motivation that she needed to keep her strength, the endurance for her tortuous daily life. Treasuring the little girl as her only light source from this whole dark valley, protecting it with her life. Pearl also takes care of Hester, she loves her mother like any child. 

Hester is, in fact, the only person in Pearl’s life whom Pearl knows and trusts intimately because the two of them live in relative isolation from the rest of the community. Though Pearl is rather impish and not particularly obedient, she will not hesitate to save her mother.  the child even has saved her mother from the devil claws, “Even thus early had the child saved her from satan’s,” (Hawthrone  77). The narrator notes that it seems Pearl has saved her mother from Satan’s temptations because when Mistress Hibbins invites Hester to a witches’ gathering she refuses. She refuses since she has to take care of her beloved daughter. If Pearl was not in Hester’s life it would be most likely she could not contain the temptation. Pearl is the only purpose to life for Hester, she has set herself the goal to dedicate her life to taking care of her daughter.

Pearl is the only thing that matters in Hester’s life.  When Hester takes Pearl with her to Governor Bellingham’s to discuss the women’s custody of her child, she is adamant about keeping her daughter. After the little girl puts her mother in a bad situation with her response to Reverend Wilson’s question, Hester is forced to argue with everything she’s got: “‘God gave me the child!’ cried she. ‘He gave her, in requital of all things else, which ye had taken from me. She is my happiness!’” (Hawthorne 64). Hester is desperate and begs the governor to keep Pearl.  Her treasure is the only thing that the sinful woman cares about.  She argues that God gave her this child as compensation for the fact that everything else in her life had been taken away from her because of her adultery and the punishment that she was given.  With Pearl representing everything that Hester cares about, it is inevitable that she comes to be her happiness and joy. Making Hester and readers see the child as an Angel.

Even though Pearl showed signs to not be a normal child, she is definitely not evil. Even when the presence of Pearl is a constant reminder of Hester’s sin, she treasures her child. Pearl gave a purpose to Hester and a meaning to her life. The girl is her mother’s only occupation, she is the cause of Hester’s moods to be both good and bad.  Also, she keeps this sinful woman focused on doing good for her daughter’s sake.  Pearl has a positive impact on Hester’s life, bringing her joy and keeping her from collapsing under the weight of her sin, even though at times her childish ways can hurt her mother. Pearl is an Angel dispatched by the Lord to show mercy to a woman crying for help.