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That's a very sad thing and it again shows that lack of forgiveness in the Puritan society of 16th century. Pearl thus stands for innocence in the novel- innocence that is tainted by someone else's sins.
Dimmesdale represents the psychological damage that wrong teachings of the Church could produce. He is also symbolizing the weakness in the structure of the Church. He is a minister who preaches people against adultery but has committed a sin himself. He is a human being and if seen with compassion, he should be allowed to have a family but the Church sees him as a sinner and the constant pain and anguish that he undergoes leads to serious psychological damage. He is so upset with the Church that he proclaims: "Were I an atheist...I might have found peace, long ere now" (1499
Chillingworth is the husband who went missing for few years during which Hester gave birth to Pearl. He represents anger and hostility the society shows against a sinner. He wants to avenge what he sees as betrayal. He stands as a symbol of fake morality and ethics. He is a doctor by profession and is supposed to provide care and compassion to people. But he is only making others lives more difficult by reminding them of their sins. He causes immense pain to Hester and Dimmesdale since he knows about their connection....
The darkness of his soul is obvious when he meets Hester to reveal his identity even though he tries to mask "this expression with a smile; but the latter played him false, and flickered over his visage so derisively that the spectator could see his blackness all the better for it" (1397).
In short the whole novel is allegorical but not in the same way as some critics have felt. Instead in a realistic manner, the novel uses allegory to highlight the lack of compassion in Puritan society. He describes the society as "the bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray, steeple-crowned hats" (1331). Thus the whole novel is about Puritan society and the Church where they are attacked for their false teachings, wrong ideals, and lack of compassion.
References
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Fifth Edition. W.W. Nina Baym, Editor. Norton & Co. New York, N.Y. 1998.
Winters, Y. Maule's Curse: Seven Studies in American Obscurantism. New York: New Directions, 1938
FO Matthiessen. American Renaissance: Art and Expression in the Age of Emerson and Whitman (Galaxy Books): 1941
Richard, Chase. The American Novel and Its Tradition: The Johns Hopkins University Press; New Ed edition (May 1, 1980)
" (Hawthorne, 71) This statement of intent strikes as a core romantic value, contending with no small degree of irony that there is a sense of moral authority in the air which bears a dominant effect on the lives of New Englanders. Indeed, this is consistent with our understanding of Hawthorne's critical response to the forces of Puritanism. That the author is from the infamous settlement of Salem, Massachusetts, commonly referenced
" This seems powerful evidence that she has not accepted Puritan gender roles, but instead, is defending and helping to uplift the man who got her into this situation, and who is looked up to as a spiritual leader, while she is a spiritual outcast. The contrast is striking between the two, yet she is the strong one. There was neither "irritation or irksomeness" in Hester (124) and the "blameless purity
Hester refers to her label as a "passport" revealing that it is freeing for her, and Dimmesdale is able to preach and understand humanity better because of his relationship. True sin is not understood by the other preachers, but evil is found in the closeness of love and hate in the society. Another major theme in the Scarlet Letter is identity. Hester embraces her "A" identity and refuses to leave
They also become physically afflicted, afflicted in their corrupt and judgmental flesh, in the case of Chillingworth, rotting like a plant. Hawthorne's fairy-tale like ending, however unrealistic it may sound, because surely the bad and cowardly are not always punished by death and despair, does strike one true note. People who morally condemn others are entirely dependant upon finding moral causes to uphold, and people to defame. With no one
As written in the novel, can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this!" In the side of Dimmesdale, on the other hand, the effect of the sin he committed is perhaps stronger and more painful than Hester's because the bad effects caused by his sin were not instigated by the people around him, but by himself. Being a minister, Dimmesdale was known in his community as a
When women try to fling mud at Hester, as they are 'supposed' to do, because she is an adulteress, Pearl, the "imp," "who was a dauntless child, after frowning, stamping her foot, and shaking her little hand with a variety of threatening gestures, suddenly made a rush at the knot of her enemies, and put them all to flight." (Hawthorne, 1850, Chapter 7) After giving birth to her daughter Pearl,