"The very first thing which she had noticed , in her life, was-what?- not the mother smile......But that first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware was-shall we say it?- the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom." pg 86 In regards to Pearl.....
With this quote I think the reader begins to see the true affects of the scarlet letter. It captures everyone's attention; it shapes the way in which the entire general public bases their opinion. Not even Hester's own daughter (Pearl) can seem to turn her attention away from it. Pearl is constantly flinging objects, everything from flowers to burs, at her mother's letter. In a sense it seems as though wearing a scarlet letter for the rest of one's life brings upon more suffering and emotional scarring than a sudden execution.
Though, throughout the beginnning development of Hester's character I begin to question her true reaction to the consequences of the crime she committed. For one, she has embroidered the letter intricately ....does she want to draw attention to it? Second, she seems to completely ignore Pearl and the rest of the public when they judgingly stare at her. What keeps her sane?
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Hmm. Are you going to base your whole essay on that one quote and are you going to write about Pearl or Hester? This doesn't really say much I don't think. But I may be reading it wrong. I think you should also explain the differences between Pearls reaction and society's. Pearl is infatuated with it. It is part of her, a symbol of her. Whereas society first hates her, and then learns to accept her again.
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