In the podcast Dr. Jerz talks about how Hawthorne works his way throughout the novel by heavily relying on the use of symbolism. What I consider to be a large symbol in the book is Pearl, who is a living version of her mother’s scarlet letter ‘A’. Even though Pearl acts as a constant reminder of her mother’s sin she is also a blessing, a symbol of hope for Hester. Her existence gives Hester a reason to live, keeping her spirits high when she is tempted to give up.
