Chapter 19:The Child at the Brookside

So Dimmesdale’s petrified about Pearl’s reaction towards him. Although he mentions that no child has been happy in his presence except for Pearl, referring to the event that took place 4 years ago at the Governor’s Hall. Pearl’s refusal to recognize Hester without the Scarlet letter is sad because to satisfy Pearl she wears her shame again. It’s so unfortunate, because an hour ago she flung it in the withered leaves quite sure she wasn’t going to see it again. And now it’s back on her chest. I like the mood Hawthorne has set when Hester and Dimmesdale are having a little argument over whose features Pearl has acquired. They call her the ‘visible tie’ that has brought them together. The brook symbolizes the boundary where Pearl is on one side and her parents on the other. However I am not quite sure as to what Hawthorne is trying to say here. Moreover I am curious as to why Pearl was upset to see the missing letter. Honestly I was expecting the opposite reaction from Pearl. Furthermore I think Pearl is not that mature as she was portrayed in Chapter 6 because of her typical childish acts. When Dimmesdale kisses her she runs off by the brook side and washes it away. This implies that she doesn’t really approve Dimmesdale. Maybe because she’s seeing him after a long time or is not used to anyone else’s touch except Hester’s.

In a mood of tenderness that was not usual with her, she drew down her mother's head, and kissed her brow and both her cheeks. But then—by a kind of necessity that always impelled this child to alloy whatever comfort she might chance to give with a throb of anguish—Pearl put up her mouth, and kissed the scarlet letter too!

This is significant because Pearl kisses the letter which I feel mocks Hester. Also this is the first time she’s showed love instead of curiosity towards the letter’s appearance.