8th Quote- Blog Analysis

A quote on page 145 of "The Scarlet Letter," is one that provides tremendous insight into an akward situation for a parent. The quote on this page, by Pearl, reads, "What does this letter mean, mother? and why dost thou wear it? and why does the minister keep his hand over his heart?" This quote shows an interesting situation in which Hester is being pummeled intoa situation of discomfor, where she doesn't really want to tell her daughter why it is that she has to wear the horrib letter. She doesn't want her to think any less of her than she does already. However, it is quite curious that Pearl is asking ehr mother all fo these questions. It is inferred that she already knows what the letter represents, and that she just wants her mother to be shameful. It's as if she is feeding off of her mother's woes and depression to satisfy her own happiness. It really does seem quite odd, but the daughter is envisioned as having black eyes, adn being somewhat evil. So, in reality, it's believable that a child with that description could actually be trying to torment her own mother. In today's society, there are teenage arguments with parents. Although that is a someone common occurance today, the type of insult and maliciousness of Pearl's somewhat rhetorical questions is a much less common occurance. Children don't normally psychologically abuse their parents, but it seems that Pearl has done so to her mother, Hester.