chapter 19
"And beneath, in the mirror of the brook, there was the flower-girdled and sunny image of little Pearl, pointing her small forefinger too. [...] In the brook, again, was the fantastic beauty of the image, with its reflected frown, its pointed finger, and imperious gesture, giving emphasis to the aspect of little Pearl.[...]Seen in the brook once more was the shadowy wrath of Pearl's image, crowned and girdled with flowers, but stamping its foot, wildly gesticulating, and, in the midst of all, still pointing its small forefinger at Hester's bosom."
Once again, a lot of emphasis is given to the reflection of Pearl. Now she makes it clear that maybe she couldn't come become she was actually not esisting: she is the A. Having Hester thrown away the A, Pearl was thrown away too. To every Pearl's action, Hawt. remarks what happens in the brook. As soon as Hester takes back the letter, Pearl goes over the pond and the reflection disappears.
Theme: The Meaning of the "A".
ReplyDeleteYes - Pearl is the connection, the letter. Maybe this is why, at the end, Hester is able to take it off until Pearl is married overseas.