Why does Pearl throw a tantrum in Chapter 19?

Pearl had a temper tantrum because her mother did not have on her Scarlet Letter. In a way, Pearl thought her mom was “throwing away” Pearl as well as the scarlet letter. Therefore, Pearl was the one tying Dimmesdale and Hester to this sin, being the physical product of their sin.

What does the brook symbolize in the scarlet letter Chapter 19?

The Brook. This brook marks the symbolic divide between the wild natural world Pearl inhabits and the solemn real world of her parents. When Hester removed the scarlet letter, she made that solemn real world a brighter, happier place where Hester’s passionate nature becomes obvious.

Why does Pearl reject Dimmesdale’s kiss?

Why does she reject Dimmesdale’s kiss? Pearl cannot imagine Hester without the scarlet letter, and is connected to it. Pearl rejects Dimmesdale’s kiss because he refuses to go back into town holding hers and Hester’s hands. She is unsure if Dimmesdale truly is her father, so this leads to the action she has done.

What does Dimmesdale say about Pearl in Chapter 19?

Dimmesdale says he feared that Pearl’s resemblance to him would give away his secret—the narrator says Pearl is a “living hieroglyphic.” Yet Pearl refuses to come to her parents when they call.

Why does Pearl Kiss the scarlet letter?

So, when Dimmesdale kisses Pearl, he truthfully acknowledges her as his daughter; therefore, Pearl kisses him in like recognition as she ceases to be a symbol of her parents’ adultery and becomes human, in acceptance and forgiveness of Dimmesdale, and in weeping human tears for the first time in the narrative.

Why did Hester put the scarlet letter back on?

Hester puts the scarlet letter back on because it is an important part of her identity, and it allows her to be defiant and help other women, yet it was Hawthorne’s design for her to come back because she is best able to embody these ideals by sacrificing her freedom from the scarlet letter. …

What are Dimmesdale’s last words?

Dimmesdale’s very last words are “Praised be his name! His will be done! Farewell!” These words are significant because they were spoken after his confession, and then he died.

Why does Pearl wash her forehead?

Pearl’s washing off of Dimmesdale’s kiss can be seen as a sign of rejection. Just as Dimmesdale has publicly refused to accept Pearl as his daughter, so Pearl refuses to acknowledge Dimmesdale as her father. She is meeting his rejection of her with her own rejection of him.

Why did Pearl Kiss the scarlet letter?

What does Pearl whisper in Arthur’s ear?

Hester and Pearl notice Chillingworth is watching them and Dimmesdale asks Hester who Chillingworth really is, since he loathes and fears him; even referring to him as a “nameless horror”. As Hester cannot tell him his identity, Pearl whispers about it into his ear but says total nonsense.

What happens to Pearl when she kisses Dimmesdale?

While Hester assures her that this admission will happen in the future, Dimmesdale kisses Pearl’s forehead in an attempt to mollify her. Pearl immediately goes to the brook and washes off the kiss. There she remains apart from the adults, and the brook babbles cheerlessly on.

Why does Hester refuse to name her lover?

She had the fortitude to withstand the criticism that would come after a transgression like adultery, whereas she knew her love was a sensitive soul and she was afraid of what the backlash might do to him. Also, she wanted to protect him because she loved him very much.

What is a summary of the Scarlet Letter?

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a romance set in seventeenth century Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony. It takes place during the years 1642 to 1649, and tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who has a daughter from an affair. Being pregnant and without a husband, Hester draws much attention in…

Who is Hester in the Scarlet Letter?

Hester Prynne. Hester Prynne is the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne ‘s novel The Scarlet Letter. She is portrayed as a woman condemned by her Puritan neighbors. The character has been called “among the first and most important female protagonists in American literature”.

What does Sunshine mean in the Scarlet Letter?

In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses sunshine to represent truth and joy. First, one could easily see how the sun can symbolize joy, or happiness. In chapter seven in Governor Bellingham ’s home Pearl makes notice of the sunshine on the front of the Governor’s house:

What is the Scarlet Letter?

Question: “What is a scarlet letter?”. Answer: A “scarlet letter” is a stigma someone bears for a misdeed he or she has committed. The term often refers to an ongoing, public shame forced upon a person as a means of ostracizing him or her.