In The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is the main character who commits the sin of adultery and gives birth to a child. Most readers pay attention to Hester because of her sinful act and the trials she endures. Her struggles are very important, but how her daughter, Pearl, has to go through them with her is also crucial to the plot of the story. Pearl is a very complex and important aspect of the story. Even though her mother committed a sinful act of adultery, Pearl still looks up to her mother with love and grace. Pearl recognizes the characters and their importance in her and her mother's lives. There are certain times in the story where Pearl is considered a child of the Devil simply because she is the result of sin. Pearl continually finds ways to challenge the image of an evil child. Throughout the story, Pearl illustrates an "elven" intelligence and maturity that children do not normally have. Pearl gives her mother the hope she needs to continue her life with her head held high and the ability to wear the scarlet letter "A" with confidence. At the beginning of the story, Pearl is a young baby who symbolizes the goodness of her mother's sinful act of adultery. Even though she is the result of her mother's sin, Pearl does not let that define her. When Hester is first determined in the story, she is presented in front of everyone in the marketplace to be publicly humiliated. The author states, “she carried in her arms a child, a baby of about three months… knowing only the gray twilight of a dungeon” (Hawthorne 95). This quote shows that Pearl has only lived in a dreary environment since she was born. Her mother's sin deprived Pearl of a normal life, full of sunshine and family love. Stade explains...... middle of paper ......d of the Devil, but the goodness of his mother's sinful act. Pearl constantly demonstrates intelligence and maturity that surprises many characters. Finally, Pearl is placed in the story to complete a mission, and she accomplishes this task by showing her mother hope and grace. Pearl helps her mother understand that the scarlet "A" means capable. Works Cited Hawthorne. Nathaniel. The scarlet letter. New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2003. Print. Levin, David. “Allegory in the Scarlet Letter”. Readings on the Scarlet Letter. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1998. 46-56. Print.Stade, Nancy. Comments and questions: the scarlet letter. New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2003. 230-231. Print.Telgen, Diane. Novels for students. New York: Gale, 1997. 307-318. Print.McNamara, Anne Marie. “The role of the pearl”. Readings on the Scarlet Letter. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1998. 46-56. Print.