Well I have to write an essay and this is just one of the examples for how nature is an important motif in the novel.
I know a little about the brook and how Pearl wouldn't cross it because of how Hester had her hair down and the scarlet 'A' removed. Can anyone give me a quote or some examples?
Thank-you in advance.
k so heres why pearl wont come across. her entire life, pearl has been accustomed to hester wearing the letter. When she finally sees hester without the letter on, she kinda freaks out. it is especially surprising to pearl when dimmesdale is sitting by her mother. if you remember pearl had previously asked dimmesdale to hold her hand on the scaffold at noon rather than midnight. he declines and pearl gets kinda pissed off. back to the brook though. pearl again asks if dimmesdale will go to the scaffold at noon and again hester says he wont. that is the only way she will accept him and therefore will not cross the brook because hester is different without the scarlet letter and with her hair down and because dimmesdale wont admit to being the father. pearl is also used as a symbol and a reminder to hester of her sin. if you read the second to last chapter when dimmesdale dies, hawthorne states that pearls job as a reminder to hester was complete. at the brook scene, however, pearl still symbolized the scarlet letter and would not let hester not wear it. i hope that answers your question