Chapter 19: The Child at the Brook-Side

Summary:

            At the end of the previous chapter, Hester arranges for Pearl to meet Dimmesdale as her father. They meet in the woods and Hester calls Pearl over. When Pearl sees Dimmesdale, she moves very slowly towards them. While she is walking, Dimmesdale says that he was afraid that Pearl would look like him and reveal him, which brings about a conversation about how she looks like both of her parents. Hawthorne then points out that they both are suddenly overcome by the idea that Pearl is a physical connection between the two of them, on multiple levels. Hester gives Dimmesdale advice on how to conduct himself, such as to show little emotion because Pearl doesn’t like that. The minister replies that he is very nervous about this meeting. Despite this, he says that Pearl is the only child that has been nice to him (other children seem not to like him).

            Pearl suddenly stops at a small brook and just stands there for a while. Hawthorn describes the symbolic scene in great detail, and even Dimmesdale sees the stream as a boundary having deeper meaning. Hester urges Pearl to come, as Dimmesdale is still very uneasy. Pearl sees Dimmesdale put his hand over his heart, and then Pearl notices Hester is not wearing the scarlet letter and indicates for Hester to put it on.  She does so, and then Pearl comes and kisses the letter, which Hester takes as an insult. Pearl refuses to show any positive emotions towards Dimmesdale. It seems that she wants him to accept them in public, which Hester and Dimmesdale say they cannot do yet.

First Point: Effect of Scarlet Letter on Hester

            When Hester removes the scarlet letter in the previous chapter, she has a brief period where she is free of its effects. It is an immense load being taken off of her shoulders. Its effect was so great that according to Hawthorn, it even changed the weather. Pearl insists that Hester put the scarlet letter back on, so to pacify her, Hester asks Pearl to bring her the letter by the brook. Pearl declares that her mother shout get it, which she does. This action re-affirms the concept of the letter as a burden to Hester by portraying it as a sort of chore to her. As it was in the beginning of the novel, the scarlet letter remains a source of punishment to Hester. When Hester put on the letter and put her hat back on,

“As if there was a withering spell in the sad letter, her beauty, the warmth and richness of her womanhood, departed, like fading sunshine; and a gray shadow seemed to fall across her.” (Hawthorn 163)

Another example of the letter’s supernatural qualities, Hawthorn describes the letter as literally taking away from Hester’s well being. With the letter on her shirt and hair pulled up, Hester appears confined and withdrawn, as if she were in prison. The moment is also described as inclement weather towards the end of the quote, a contrast with Hester’s earlier experience of removing the letter, which brought sunlight.

Second Point: The Role Pearl Plays

            Throughout the story and especially in this chapter, Pearl exhibits a special quality that defines her role. Pearl demonstrates an insistence that people are truthful. She shows this in two ways in this chapter, starting how she forced Hester to wear the scarlet letter. She had refused to cross the brook until Hester continued to wear the letter. This act demonstrates that she wants Hester to remain in her true identity, even though Pearl doesn’t really even know what that is.

            Pearl also shows her insistence that people be truthful when Hester tells her to go to see Dimmesdale. She asks her mother “Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?” (Hawthorn 163), to which Hester replies that he will not yet. Pearl then refuses to show any affection for Dimmesdale, even scouring her face with water when his kisses it. She will not accept him as her father while he continues to lie publically about their relation. Finally, Pearl’s very being represents an exposure of truth. Not only did her birth bring about the revelation that her mother had an affair, but her whole life may be a reminder to the puritans about what her mother did. This along with her instinctive rejection of both Hester removing her letter and Dimmesdale’s hypocrisy reveal a major role of Pearl’s as an agent of truth. With this role Pearl promotes truth in many forms throughout the story.

Gossamer Thread: Clear and Present Danger

            In this movie, Jack Ryan, played by Harrison Ford, accuses U.S. President Bennett of orchestrating a cover-up that cost American lives. Despite the damage it could do to his career, Ryan, like Pearl, acts as an “agent of truth” by blowing the whistle on a huge scandal caused by the President.