6th Quote- Analysis

A quote on page 186 of "The Scarlet Letter," is significant in relaying facts to the audience. The quote, by Pearl, asks, " Mother, was that the same minister who kissed me by the brook?" This quote is significant in telling the audience that Pearl does not know who this man is, when he is, in reality, her father. It is also a good job of foreshadowing by the author, because I don't think the audience quite knew at this point who the man was themselves. It shows the willingness of the mother to keep it a secret from Pearl, in everyone's best interest. Pearl shouldn't have to worry about who her father is. The minister doesn't need to be shamed as well for what he and Hester did. It seems the two ahd the agreement that they both do not need to be miserable, and if one can take the fall for both, then so be it. Hester is selfless in doing so, and it shows a great deal of character on her part (regardless of what the public perceives her character to be like). This quote is interesting in relativity to the world today. I have heard stories of mothers taking their children to say hello to a man before and not telling them it was their father. Sometimes fathers who run away re-instert themselves into their children's lives only to get close to them without them knowing who they really are. I think this is a defining moment in Pearl's life. Later on, the parents usually tell their children who that really was, and sometimes they snap back with anger (much like Pearl does later in the story).