One of the most significant writers of the romantic period is Nathaniel Hawthorne. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne tells of the punishment of a woman, Hester Prynne, who has committed adultery with a minister, Arthur Dimmesdale. Hawthorne brings to life the character of Pearl, Hester's child from her affair with Dimmesdale. Pearl is one of the many symbols Hawthorne weaves into his story. She represents sin, connection, and a secret.

The narrator describes Pearl as "the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!" (98). Hawthorne makes it clear that Pearl is linked to Hester's scarlet letter. "It seemed to be her first impulse to clasp the infant closely to her bosom... wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another" (50). Upon emerging from the prison doors, one would know of Hester's sin by seeing little Pearl clutched...