In a rather ironic ending, Pearl, the "elf-child" becomes
the most human in the final scaffold scene. Having inherited property from
Chillingworth, she has become the "richest heiress of her day, in the New World." With
such riches, she may have married well, but her mother has taken her away to Europe.
Hawthorne narrates,
none knew...whether the elf-child had gone thus
untimely into a maiden grave, or whether her wild, rich nature had been softened and
subdued, and made capable of a woman's gentle
happiness.
Nonetheless,
Hawthorne hints that Pearl has lived on in happiness and wealth, married well, had a
child, and remained as an affectionate and dutiful daughter to Hester. This making of
Pearl into one so human and fortune may be Hawthorne's effort to give his novel a
hopeful ending to a dark narrative, yet, at the same time, the reader is aware that
little Pearl was but a helpless symbol of Hester and Arthur Dimmesdale's
sins.
The main focus, however, is Hester. While the
scarlet letter "has not done its office," it has become part of her identity. For,
after having lived in Europe, Hester returns to her former domicile, stoops and picks up
the letter and resumes wearing it voluntarily. The scarlet letter, ironically, has
become like the hanging crucifix on a nun's bosom, imparting a kind of sacredness.
Through her suffering, Hester has gleaned wisdom. She bears the standard that signifies
a new hope:
In Heaven's own time a new truth would be
revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer
ground of mutual happiness....Earlier in life, Hester had vainly imagined that she might
be the destined prohetess, but had long since recognised the impossibility that any
mission of divine and mysterious truth should be confided to a woman sustained with
sin...and lifelong sorrow....the angel and apostle of the coming revelation must be a
woman...pure, and beautiful; and wise,...not through dusky grief, but the ethereal
medium of joy; and showing how sacred love should make us
happy....
That Hawthorne
retains some of his Puritan heritage is evidenced in the heavy price Hester is made to
pay for having allowed her passions to be satiated. Her grave has a space between it
and Dimmesdale's although there is one tombstone as it is in "vain to hope that [they]
could meet hereafter, in an everlasting and pure reunion."
No comments:
Post a Comment