arl keeps me here in life!...Ye shall not take her! Iwill die first!” Which is the first time the reader sees how important Pearl is to Hesters unhappylife. It is her motivation to keep going.Pearl, though Hester understands that she was God-given as a constant reminder or hersin, is her only requited love and a friend that does not judge her by things past. Later, Hestercomments that she would have “signed my name in the Black Man’s book too, and that with mineown blood!” if they had taken Pearl from her. Her daughter is her only earthly salvation, as well asher only friend. Pearl is a blessing upon Hester in that her light-heartedness and seeminginnocence allow her mother to forget about her troubles and simply live day to day. To see Pearlplaying on the beach and creating a fascinating world of her own is to allow Hester tomomentarily throw off the shackles imposed on her by Puritan society and be truly happy. So in conclusion the Scarlet Letter is overflowing with masterfully wrought symbolismand representation, but Pearl Prynne is the purest and deepest symbol in the story. She was bornnot only out of utter sin, but out of the deepest and most absolute love imaginable. She serves as amessenger of God’s salvation through pain, and as a symbol of all that is blessed and content inHester Prynne’s life. She breaks a spell that had lain over the dyad in adultery and herself - theproduct of their sin - , completing her service as a symbol of pain and hardship, but moreimportantly a symbol of love, salvation, and the deep bond between two lovers condemned by thestrict decorum of the Puritan days. This is the true meaning of Pearls character, to serve as aextension of the scarlet letter in Hester Prynnes punishment and life. While Pearl also ends upbeing the only reason for Hester to live....
