"She is my happiness! She is my torture, none the less Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too!" (104). This quote examines the importance of Pearl in Hester's life. She allows Hester to feel happiness, as well as serves as a constant reminder and punishment of the sin that Hester has committed.
Pearl is involved in an extremely perplexing and elaborate history and background. Pearl's mother, Hester, was punished for adultery; therefore Pearl was the result of her sin. Pearl, being Hester's child as a result is involved in Hester's history as well. Pearl is brought up with only a mother, whom is ostracized from society as well. She does not know who her father is and Hester will answer none of her questions about her past. Because of her nonexistent history she naturally becomes a very curious child. She desires to know what Hester will not tell her. She is also viewed as different from the rest of the community. She lives alone with just her mother, which is extremely unusual and her father is unknown to everyone, except her mother. Her unusual history and background is the cause of her curiosity, as well as her seclusion from the community.
Pearl plays one of the most crucial roles in The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne uses Pearl as an effective and dynamic character; she is a constant reminder to Hester of her sin. When we were first introduced to Pearl, she was immediately drawn to the Scarlet "A" on Hester's bosom. "But the first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware was the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom! One day, as her mother stooped over the cradle, the infant's eyes had been caught by the glimmering of the gold embroidery about the letter' and, putting up her little hand, she grasped at it, smiling not doubtfully, but with a decided gleam." (88). Beginning at infancy, Pearl served as a reminder of the Scarlet "A" on her bosom. Hawthorne shows this symbolism various times.