the scarlet letter, symbol 19

Chapter 8

Pearl is about to be taken away from her mother, but Hester refuses. Governor Bellingham means that Pearl would have it better if she lived with someone else. Mr. Wilson asks Pearl where she comes from to see if she had the kind of Christian upbringing appropriate for her age. Even though Pearl's mother has thought her that she comes from the heavenly father she says something else. She says she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses, that grew by the prison-door. Now it's clear that Pearl is a symbol. Pearl is a wild natural (nature) girl who can't be tamed, just like the rose bush! It fits her perfect to say she was picked from the rose-bush!