Scarlet Letter #10

"It was the observation of those that beheld him now, that never, since Mr. Dimmesdale first set foot on the New England shore, had he exhibited such energy as was seen in the gait and air with which he kept his pace in the procession" (213)

I feel somewhat glad for Dimmesdale because he realizes that his time has come to confess his sin and he knows he does not have to beat himself up anymore. He realizes that it is not his place to punish himself for what he did because that is God's job. He is supposed to forgive himself and accept any consequences that are thrown at him. Dimmesdale had felt the burden of his sin and his hypocracy for such a long time that being relieved like Dimmesdale was would change anyone's spirit and make them look and seem different to others.

"Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father's cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. Towards her mother, too, Pearl's errand as a messenger of anguish was all fulfilled" (229)

Throughout the book, we have seen Pearl being a symbol of both Hester and Dimmesdale's sins, but she also was a symbol of their redemption as well. We see that before Dimmesdale revealed his sin, Pearl would not accept his affection towards her, but after, she gives him a kiss to prove that his spirit is cleansed. Pearl is a pivotal character in the novel because she keeps the Hester and Dimmesdale in check and makes them remember what they did. Pearl is able to expose her parents' flaws to them because of her innocence. As we have learnt in theology this year, young children often see the world using Pre-Conventional morality. Pearl sees how people can act around Hester and how Dimmesdale acts around Hester, so she can sense they have each committed a sin and should be punished for it. Pearl believes this because followers of Pre-Conventional morality believe in a reward/punishment system. Pearl innocence and unbiased knack for finding the truth allowed her to be the perfect chracter to be someone to keep their sins ever-present until they confessed where she would then be the first sign of redemption.