Isabella Haberstock

Ms. Thomson (pd. 8)

AP English Language and Composition
5 April 2017

Character Traits of Pearl

Mischievous and possibly evil

She always seems to be up to something.

o looking up to the window, with a bright, but naughty smile of mirth
(Hawthorne 92)
o Pearl looked up, with mischief gleaming in her black eyes (Hawthorne 124)
Many people thinks she is possessed and has ulterior motives.
o the neighboring townspeople had given out that poor little Pearl was a demon
offspring occasionally seen on earth to promote some foul and wicked
purpose (Hawthorne 68)
Content with her mothers misery

She is happy when her mother is sad or ashamed.

When her mother finally experiences peace, Pearl does not stop screaming until her
mother puts the scarlet letter back on.
o she advanced to the margin of the brook, took up the scarlet letter, and fastened it
again to her bosom she had drawn an hours free breath!and here again was
the scarlet misery, glittering again on the old spot! (Hawthorne 145)
o After her mother looks miserable again, Pearl goes to her and behaves normally.
Playful

She likes to run around when she and Hester go into the town.
o constantly in motion from morning till sunset (Hawthorne 69)
o So she drew her mother away, skipping, dancing, and frisking fantastically
(Hawthorne 92)
She is usually in isolation with her mother and will play outside when she gets the
chance.
o Mother and daughter stood together in the same circle of seclusion from human
society (Hawthorne 65).
Intelligent

She knows that her mother and the minister are connected.
 o And, mother, he has his hand over his heart! Is it because, when the minister
wrote his name in the book, the Black Man set his mark in that place? But why
does he not wear it outside his bosom, as thou dost, mother? (Hawthorne 128)
o She recognizes that the minister has a mark of shame like Hesters.
She understands that she is the product of her mothers shame.
o Now Pearl knew well enough who made her (Hawthorne 76)
o Pearl took some eel-grass, and imitated, as best she could, on her own bosom,
the decoration with which she was so familiar on her mothers. A letter,the
letter A,but freshly green, instead of scarlet! (Hawthorne 122)
She labeled herself with the A to signify that she was connected with her
mothers sin.
No filter

She does not have a problem saying what she thinks.

o About the minister: What a strange, sad man is he! said the child, as if speaking
partly to herself. In the dark night-time, he calls us to him, and holds thy hand
and mine, as when we stood with him on the scaffold yonder! And in the deep
forest, where only the old trees can hear, and the strip of sky see it, he talks with
thee, sitting on a heap of moss! And he kisses my forehead, too, so that the little
brook would hardly wash it off! But here in the sunny day, and among all the
people, he knows us not; nor must we know him! A strange, sad man is he, with
his hand always over his heart! (Hawthorne 157)
o She said this in a very public place and was shushed by her mother.
She openly asks her mother about the scarlet letter even though she knows it makes her
mother uncomfortable.
o But in good earnest now, mother dear, what does this scarlet letter mean?and
why dost thou wear it on thy bosom?and why does the minister keep his hand
over his heart? (Hawthorne 123)
Brat

She likes to scream when she does not get what she wants and tries to be as much of a
nuisance to her mother as possible.
o Pearl, seeing the rose-bushes, began to cry for a red rose, and would not be
pacified in utter scorn of her mothers attempt to quiet her, gave an eldritch
scream (Hawthorne 73)
Question for Roger Chillingworth: If you were in the ministers position, would you have stood
with me and my mother as he did in his last moments?
Question answers:

From Colbert:
1. No, because it would not get rid of the letter and it would not stop the minister from
having his hand over his heart. Even if I had knowledge of her situation, I will still go
with her everywhere because she is my mother. She would still be full of misery and our
lives would continue as normal.
2. I think it is better to give a kid a better home, but Child Protective Services is nothing like
those awful magistrates! Its not like I was being abused, and those guys were super
creepy.

From Hester:
1. I knew that I was no longer the center of your attention and that the minister did not
deserve to be. I did not want you to think you would be happy with him when he would
not even acknowledge us in public.