This quote shows how Hester views her child. She fears that the child will turn out to be evil because of the sin she has committed. Hester names her daughter Pearl to show that she is a 'treasure', and the only good thing in her life, but Pearl displays odd characteristics. She has no friends, and the other children in the village ostracize her. The first thing that Pearl recognized when she was born was not her mother's smile, but rather the scarlet letter, which is why Hester expects her to be a demon. Everyone judges Hester for the scarlet letter, even her own daughter. Pearl's odd behavior shows that she may be cursed by her mother's sin.
Is Pearl really a demon?
2) "But, wether from pride or resignation, or a feeling that her penance might best be wrought out by this unutterable pain, she resisted the impulse, and sat erect, pale as death, looking sadly into Pearl's wild eyes" (89).
This quote describes what Hester is feeling while Pearl throws weeds at the scarlet letter. Hester resists the urge to cover it, and lets Pearl continue. She also does this throughout town. She never covers the letter, even though she feels terrible when people look at it and judge her because of it. She cannot find one ally in the entire town. Hester makes the choice to never cover the letter because she believes she deserves this punishment as a part of her penance. This issue of penance also comes up when Hester decides to not run away back to Europe. She thinks that his whole situation is part of her redemption, so, she will not run away, or cover the letter. She also accepts Pearl's evil nature as part of her penance.
Will Hester be redeemed herself by accepting all the bad things that happen to her?
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