Ch 5-8: Reflection

One thing that I really noticed while reading these chapters is the extent to which Hawthorne describes a character or an idea. He uses incredibly precise language to evoke a certain image and feeling when describing any situation; he explains every little detail. By being so specific and writing such vivid descriptions, Hawthorne doesn't allow readers to have very much leeway in putting their own interpretation. In addition, many times Hawthorne seems very long-winded because he spends so much time to describe everything. One instance of Hawthorne being very direct and precise with the reader is the beginning of chapter five on page 72 and 73. Another more prominent example is that he spends all of chapter six thoroughly describing Pearl and the way she affects Hester. He spends more than a page describing why Hester felt more vulnerable walking out of the prison than during her time on the scaffold. Despite those downsides, it is amazing how clearly he imagined these fictional situations and characters while writing the novel. Furthermore, it is even more amazing that he is able to write down his ideas so exactly and eloquently. At first it was hard to keep track of all the information, details, he tells us, but gradually it becomes easier to follow Hawthorne's language.While I also noticed how much Hawthorne keeps on associating Pearl with imps and sprites along with the color scarlet red. By describing Pearl as beautiful yet terrifying and as a product of Hester's sin (82-83), Hawthorne implies that Pearl is a physical representation of sinning itself. Indulging in one of the seven sins, although satisfying and tempting like Pearl's beauty, leads to detrimental consequences and tarnishes the soul of an individual. Furthermore, he explicitly says, "It [Pearl wearing a crimson tunic] was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!" (93) Pearl is a living representation of Hester's sin.
Pearl reminded me of a siren-type of figure to Hester. Sirens were beautiful creatures; however, they were actually monsters that killed sailors by luring them in with their beauty and mesmerizing voices. Similarly, Pearl's beauty mesmerizes Hester, and by attempting to care for Pearl, Hester only suffers from her daughter's cruelty and witnesses the demon inside of her.