# Pearl — The Scarlet Letter character guide > Pearl in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** little Pearl, poor little Pearl, Little Pearl, dear little Pearl, Silly Pearl, Child, the Elf-Child **First appearance:** 0004-ii-the-marketplace ## Who they are Hester's wild, elf-like daughter, a child who seems to spring from the scarlet letter itself and who torments her mother with uncanny, unanswerable questions. ## Relationships ### [Hester Prynne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/hester_prynne) _family_ Mother and daughter, bound by deep love and the shared burden of Hester's sin. ### [Satan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/satan) _psychological_ Pearl is often seen as an impish, almost demonic child, embodying the sin of her parents. ### [Arthur Dimmesdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/arthur_dimmesdale) _family_ Dimmesdale is Pearl's secret father, though he cannot openly acknowledge her. ### [Roger Chillingworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/roger_chillingworth) _rivalry_ Pearl instinctively distrusts and avoids Chillingworth, sensing his malevolent nature. ### [John Wilson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/john_wilson) _social_ Wilson is a stern religious figure who questions Pearl's upbringing and moral nature. ### [Governor Bellingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/governor_bellingham) _social_ Bellingham considers taking Pearl away from Hester, viewing her as an ill-raised child. ### [Hester Prynne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/hester_prynne) _family_ Mother and daughter, bound by deep love and the shared burden of Hester's sin. ### [Satan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/satan) _psychological_ Pearl is often seen as an impish, almost demonic child, embodying the sin of her parents. ### [Governor Bellingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/governor_bellingham) _social_ Bellingham considers taking Pearl away from Hester, viewing her as an ill-raised child. ### [Arthur Dimmesdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/arthur_dimmesdale) _family_ Dimmesdale is Pearl's secret father, though he cannot openly acknowledge her. ### [Roger Chillingworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/roger_chillingworth) _rivalry_ Pearl instinctively distrusts and avoids Chillingworth, sensing his malevolent nature. ### [John Wilson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/john_wilson) _social_ Wilson is a stern religious figure who questions Pearl's upbringing and moral nature. ## In the story ### [The Scarlet Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/the-scarlet-letter) Hester's infant daughter, born of the adulterous relationship, present during the public shaming. ### [II: The Marketplace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/ii-the-marketplace) A three-month-old infant carried by Hester; winces at the sunlight after being in the dark prison. ### [The Recognition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/iii-the-recognition) Hester's infant, who wails and screams during the ordeal. ### [IV: The Interview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/iv-the-interview) Hester's infant daughter, who suffers convulsions from the turmoil of the day. Chillingworth administers medicine that soothes her to sleep. ### [Hester at Her Needle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/v-hester-at-her-needle) Hester's infant child, who lives with her in the cottage and is the object of fearful curiosity from local children. ### [VI: Pearl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/vi-pearl) Pearl is described as a beautiful, brilliant, but disorderly child, an outcast among Puritan children, who displays a fierce temper and a seemingly preternatural intelligence. ### [The Governor's Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/vii-the-governor-s-hall) Accompanies her mother, dressed in a crimson velvet tunic that mimics the scarlet letter; she is dauntless, playful, and sees her mother's reflection in the armor. ### [VIII: The Elf-Child and the Minister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/viii-the-elf-child-and-the-minister) Refuses to answer religious questions, claiming she was plucked from a rosebush, and displays her wild, elfish nature. ### [IX: The Leech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/ix-the-leech) Mentioned indirectly as the child of Hester's sin, part of the context of Chillingworth's hidden purpose. ### [X: The Leech and His Patient](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/x-the-leech-and-his-patient) Displays wild, irreverent behavior in the graveyard, dancing on tombstones and throwing burrs at Dimmesdale. She refers to Chillingworth as the 'Black Man' and warns her mother to flee. ### [The Minister's Vigil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xii-the-minister-s-vigil) Points at Roger Chillingworth and speaks gibberish to Dimmesdale, mocking his lack of courage. ### [Another View of Hester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xiii-another-view-of-hester) Pearl is now seven years old. Hester's role as a mother and the challenges of raising Pearl, who is described as having a nature that seems 'born amiss,' are central to Hester's reflections. ### [XIV: Hester and the Physician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xiv-hester-and-the-physician) Plays by the seashore, peering into tidal pools and seeing her own reflection, while Hester speaks with Chillingworth. ### [Hester and Pearl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xv-hester-and-pearl) Pearl persistently questions her mother about the scarlet letter and the minister's hand over his heart, showing precocity and mischief. ### [XVI: A Forest Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xvi-a-forest-walk) Accompanies Hester; plays in the forest, catches sunshine, questions her mother about the Black Man and the scarlet letter. ### [XVII: The Pastor and His Parishioner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xvii-the-pastor-and-his-parishioner) Pearl is briefly mentioned as having been sitting with Hester on the moss before the meeting. ### [XVIII: A Flood of Sunshine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xviii-a-flood-of-sunshine) Plays in the forest, gathering berries and flowers, and approaches slowly when called by her mother. ### [XIX: The Child at the Brook-Side](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xix-the-child-at-the-brook-side) Pearl stands on the far side of the brook, pointing at her mother's breast and demanding the scarlet letter be replaced. She kisses the letter and shows reluctance toward Dimmesdale. ### [The Minister in a Maze](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xx-the-minister-in-a-maze) Dances by the brook after Dimmesdale leaves, returning to her mother's side. ### [The New England Holiday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xxi-the-new-england-holiday) Pearl is dressed gaily and exhibits restless, birdlike movements. She questions her mother about the holiday and the minister, showing her perceptive nature and recalling past encounters with Dimmesdale. ### [XXII: The Procession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xxii-the-procession) Watches the procession with initial delight, then becomes restless; she asks Hester about kissing Dimmesdale in public and engages with Mistress Hibbins. ### [XXIII: The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xxiii-the-revelation-of-the-scarlet-letter) Kisses her father Dimmesdale, breaking the spell of her wildness and showing newfound sympathy. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xxiv-conclusion) Inherits Chillingworth's fortune, leaves Boston with Hester, and is believed to have married happily abroad, sending tokens of remembrance to her mother. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/pearl - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters