Chapter VI: Pearl

Pearl is introduced in greater depth.

• Hester paid for Pearl with everything she had: her self-respect, her honor, the loss of her old life.

• Hester believes that Pearl took in all of her worst traits during the pregnancy (all the despair, angst, etc. that Hester was feeling).

• Hester also believes that since Pearl was conceived in sin, nothing good can come of her.

Pearl

• She behaves very poorly; doesn’t listen to Hester; throws rocks at other children; is impossible to discipline (the only one that has temporarily worked is physical restraint)

• When her mother cries, Pearl reacts in three ways: 1) she frowns and throws a tantrum, 2) she laughs and finds her mom’s sorrow funny, 3) she cries along with her mom.

Pearl = Devil child

• Pearl stares at them, but never wants to interact with them. She throws rocks at the children if they get too close to her and screams at them.

• This builds the theme of alienation - Pearl has grown up alienated and has never known acceptance.

Pearl with the other children