One of the things that stuck with me throughout my reading of The Scarlet Letter was the peculiar characteristics of Pearl. Online searches for “character traits of Pearl in the Scarlet Letter” will return information along the lines of an intelligent, beautiful, and rebellious child. Sheʼs like this blob of light, always happy and free. But that is not my impression of Pearl. The Pearl I see is a devilish child who is simultaneously the most innocent character in the entire story. To Hester, she is a “lovely child” sent by God to guide her into the path of salvation, but also “an imp of evil” that seems to lack humanity and is there to punish her (92 - 96); a living juxtaposition. I want to create an illustration that would show both sides of Pearl, as seen from Hesterʼs perspective; the Pearl that she loves and the Pearl that she fears.

First, I looked through passages describing Pearlʼs appearance, behavior, and Hester's perception of her. I copied down quotes that would help me with her character design and quotes that I could use in this artist statement. I struggled with choosing a design for the artwork. I was indecisive about whether I should draw two Pearls, one innocent and one evil, or one Pearl with both characteristics. In the end, I decided to draw two Pearls to better represent the two contrasting sides of her. Next, I drew down a rough sketch of the poses of the characters, which I had visualized in my head. I looked online for references of real photos of children to help me get the anatomy right. I did a little bit of research on Puritan children's clothing in the 1600s, the era in which the novel takes place. I took inspiration from paintings of children at the time and combined them with my vague impressions of Pearl to finalize her designs.

In the novel, Pearl is described as having “bright, deeply black eyes,” which is a reflection of Hesterʼs sins (95). To achieve this paradoxical effect, I drew her eyes with a dark base color along with irises that are light and saturated. I did not put any highlights on her eyes in order to convey a sense of depth. However, I made sure to add plenty of highlights to her hair to stay true to the description of her in the novel: having "dark, shiny brown [hair]" (104).

The Pearl standing on the left represents the innocent side of Pearl as seen by Hester. One of Pearlʼs garments is a “russet gown” that is “torn and soiled with the childʼs rude play,” which reflects her wild and childish nature (93). I added several details to indicate that Pearl had been playing, including dirt splotches, frayed edges, and rolled-up sleeves. Hester is well aware of Pearlʼs “remote and intangib[le]” characteristics and often fears that she “might vanish”(93). Pearl does not seem to belong in the dark and strict society she inhabits, as she is innocent and carefree, and therefore freed from its rules. I drew the light particles scattered around her to reflect this supernatural, almost sacred side of her. The light is also a reference to Pearlʼs “circle of radiance” that illuminates the “darksome cottage -floor” and brightens Hesterʼs days (93).

The Pearl standing on the right is the embodiment of evil Hester sees in herself. She is literally the product of her sin. She wears “a crimson velvet tunic… [that is] abundantly embroidered with… flourishes of gold thread” (104). The rich, deep red color connotes damnation and danger. It reflects the scarlet letter, the “very first thing which [Pearl] had noticed in her life,” and the fact that since Pearl's birth, “Hester had never felt a momentʼs safety” (99).

For Hester, Pearl is “a shadowy reflection of [her] evil” (98). I incorporated this symbolism into my artwork by making the shadows of the two Pearls blend together to form the letter A, which represents the scarlet letter worn by Hester. Against a dark background, light shines on Pearl, emphasizing her importance to Hester, as she is “her motherʼs only treasure” (116). In Hesterʼs words, “she is my happiness!—she is my torture” (92). As much as Pearlʼs existence taunts Hester, she still loves her unconditionally. She is her light in the dark world.

Through this process of breaking down how Hester sees Pearl, I was able to put myself in Hester's shoes and experience the world from her perspective. While I was working on the artwork, it was almost like I was Hester, and Pearl was looking at me and silently judging me. I was able to come to a better understanding of the novel, especially Hesterʼs internal struggles. I also realized just how significant Pearl is to the novel. The symbolism she embodies echoes throughout the story, from the theme of innocence vs. evil to the salvation and punishment experienced by the characters.

This project includes pieces from Depth of Knowledge (DOK) Levels 1 and 4. I had to recall specific passages from The Scarlet Letter that describes Pearl (Level 1) and construct an original interpretation of the novel (Level 4). By researching the historical setting of the novel, I used information from different sources to synthesize my design of Pearl (Level 4). I made heavy use of technological skills in this project as I created my artwork digitally with a drawing program. This project gave me the opportunity to express my interpretation of Pearl and to allow my creativity to flourish. It made me appreciate the novel even more.