Pearl: A Byproduct of Sin

English 11 The Scarlet Letter Essay Topic

I changed essay topics so this outline is now abandoned

Outline

Working Thesis: Pearl exists as a persistent and annoying symbol of the sin between Hester and Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter. (change "annoying")

• living reminder
• her activities and manners show this
  • demon child
  • maybe a devil
    • more community scorn
  • sin produces sin
• symbols big in romance novels
  • shows an alternate reality - not realism
• purity
  • torments mother
  • doesn't understand twisted adult world
  • "more honest then adults"
• focuses on "A"
  • raises questions about the letter often
  • always pointing it out
  • doesn't go to mother when she doesn't have it
• bad to Dimmesdale because he won't talk about his sin
• successful after book
  • becomes normal
  • very rich
  • marries and lives happily every after
  • (symbolism?)