Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Chapters 11 & 12
Does the character of Pearl seem realistic? Some readers of The Scarlet Letter think she seems much older than her age—far too mature for a young girl. Can you think of any reasons why Pearl should seem so unlike a child at times? Are children her age today ever “forced to grow up early” like that? Why? Pearl is also a very angry child—angry with her mother, in particular. Does this seem like a realistic trait as well? Why or why not?
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I believe that the character of Pearl is a very realistic character. Yes, Children are sometimes forced to grow up and mature before their time. Its a necessity. And Pearl holding anger against her mother is yet another reasonable trait. Though most of the time, the offspring dont resent the parents until later in the teen years but like is said. Sometimes its a necessity to grow up fast.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Pearl isn't a very realistic person because when she was asked where she came from, you don't expect a child to answer by saying she was plucked from a rose bush. I think that depending on the age and situation, children are being froced to grow up early. Getting angry at your parents is natural, but I don't think Pearl's anger towards her mother is right for her age.
ReplyDeletePearl's character is not very realistic, young children do not possess the comprehension level that Pearl displays. She answer questions like I was plucked from a rose bush instead of my mom and dad which you would expect from such a young child. The anger Pearl directs towards her is another example of unexpected comprehension skills, she knows even at three that the reason they are so isolated from the community is because of her mother. Other three year olds would just be happy they do not have to fight for their mothers attention. I believe childeren are forced to grow up to quickly under certain circumstances. Most parts today are divorced and this can definetely affect the rate in which a child grows up.
ReplyDeletePearl does not seem realistic to me. Children her age would not understand the things Pearl does. I dont think kids her age could talk and have conversations like she does. The anger pearl has towards her mother is so un realistic, kids her age dont realise what thier mother has done or care. All they really care about is getting what they want and getting the attention they need. I strongly believe that children are forced to grow up early especially now a days. Kids are having to work earlier to help support thier family, they leave college to get jobs not for extra money but because they need the money to survive. Having to provide for yourself and other people at such a young age is somthing i consider haveing to grow up to early.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Pearl does not seem like a very realistic character. She says very intelegent remarks, such as her response to Wilson as being plucked from a rose bush. Pearl is unusually aware of the world around her, and knows what is really going on. Today, children are being asked to grow up too early. They are expected to grow up faster because parents are now expecting a lot out of their children, such as being responsible and doing a lot of work. Children do not usually get angry with their parents until their teen years, which is why it is unusual that Pearl is now mad at Hester. Of course kids are going to get upset over small things, but we don't start holding things against our parents until we are older.
ReplyDeleteThe character of Pearl seems realistic to me because in our society today children are sometimes forced to grow up early because their parents need their help with tasks and sometimes take care of themselves so the parent can go to work and bring home money to support the family. Pearl possesses the qualities of a much older child such as high comprehension skills, advanced speech, and the ability to be angry at her mother. Pearl’s anger towards her mother is understandable but highly unrealistic for a child of such a young age. Children that are three or four years old can become angry when you take away a toy or something but not the way Pearl feels towards her mother.
ReplyDeleteI dont think that Pearl is portrayed as real because people that are her age dont really think, they just run around and make alot of noise. Children feel the need to grow up early because they see older people as "cool" and they want to be cool like the old people.
ReplyDeletePearl is not a realistic child for her age. She gets angered at her mother which is not common for a child that young, when yhey usually just become angered that whatever they had is gone. She also answers questions in very poetic, obscure ways such as "I was plucked from the rose bush." She also sees Chillingsworth and deicdes that he is the "black man" and has Dimmesdale in his clutches. No children outside of pure prodigies can come up with responses like that at three or four years old. Some children are forced to grow up quickly when a parent dies, and they have to try and become that mother/parent to there little brother.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Pearl shown as a realistic person because people her age aren't typically angry at their parents for commiting adultery. A person her age typically wouldn't know what that is. Sometimes kids feel the need to grow up when they see an unstable environment or are lacking friends. For instance, Pearl may feel like she should imitate her mother and other adults because the kids won't talk to her.
ReplyDeletePearl definitely seems advanced but is still realistic because her situation is different that the average child. From a young age, Pearl has had to cope with problems that are extremely complex and unusual for a young child to have to cope with. Today, some children grow up quick like that due to neglect and having to depend on themselves all the time. On the other hand, i don't believe that Pearl's anger with her mother is a realistic trait because Hester has always loved and cared for Pearl and been the only one there for her. Hester and Pearl should be extremely close and children don't typically rebel against their parents until they are much older.
ReplyDeletePearl does not seem like a realistic character. Pearl is only seven and at that age most kids don't know much of what's going on. Pearl's angry with her mother and her replies are that of a older more mature child. She seems to know everything and has quick very articulate remarks for her age. Kids today are pushed into growing up to fast,their given much responsibility and the media espically forces them to mature more rapid.
ReplyDeletePearl is a very realistic character. She has been forced to grow up early and deal with the fall out of what her mother did. Her mothers sin impacts her life so it is reasonable for her to dislike her mother. Living as an outcast in society has forced her to grow up early. This along with being hated by other children has caused her anger towards her mother and the world. Anger is a realistic trait for a character that has gone through what pearl has gone through
ReplyDeletePearl doesn't seem like a realistic character. She seems to understand so much about what's going on in the village and yet she is so young. Pearl's actions are young, but her speech is that of someone much older. I dont think its realistic that she is so angry with her mother. Children normally love their mother and most cry when they are separated from them. Children today are forced to grow up faster then ever before. Media is a big contributor to this process. It subjects the children to things they maybe aren't ready to handle or process until they are older.
ReplyDeletePearl doesn't seem like a realistic character. She's to mature for her age. From a scientific standpoint it should be impossible for her to be this mature because the brain shouldn't be developed enough for her to think of such poetic answers to questions and to consider something to be angry at besides not having some toy, food, or attention. Although some children grow up fast, it is only because they are forced into a harsh lifestyle were they have no choice but to grow up or die, or be in a situation were they have to be mature for someone else's sake. That isn't yet possible for a child of her age unless she has some abnormally fast brain development.
ReplyDeleteThe character or Pearl could be seen as a symbol for not only Hesters shame but her joy as well. Pearl is very mature for her age due to the fact that she has no friends of her age and most of the time she is communicating stictly with her mother. Children these days are forced to grow up early because each age has a maturatiy level.
ReplyDeletePearls anger towards her mother seems not only realistic but perhaps a symbol of the shame of people towards hester for her sins
In my opinion, I don't think that the character Pearl portrays is very realistic at all. The remarks and decisions she chooses to make wouldn't be those of young children today. Depending on a certain situation, children do tend to be forced to grow up too early. Parents are now setting much higher expectations of their children than before. They inforce certain responsibilities on their children to get them ready for the "Real World". The anger Pearl depicts towards her mother, yes, is something to get mad at, but, not at such a young age.
ReplyDeleteI dont think the character of Pearl is very realistic. I think she seems so unlikely as a child at some times because the aouthor is trying to portray that she has gone through more than the average child and is very distant from others. No i dont believe children today are forced to grow up early like that unless they are in a position where they have lost a mother or father and need to do something for their families sake. I think this is a realistic trait because i would be mad at my mother as well. but also i would love her.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not but I know a kid who is only 6 years old that talks like he is 15. It scares me quite a bit. So I don't believe that Pearl is an unrealistic character. Many kids are forced to know what's going on. A similar case was that of Jeannette Walls from the glass castle. At an early age she had to know what was going on in order to survive.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that Pearl is a very realistic character. The way she speaks and the comments she makes would make you think she is alot older than she actually is. She is alittle too mature for her age. But sometimes young children are forced to grow up early and assume resposibilities that a child wouldnt not normally have at that age.Like in the "Glass Castle" the children were forced to grow up early, and lost alot of thier childhood because of the situation they were in. Although getting angry at your parents is a natural thing for growing up, I do not think Pearls anger is appropriate for her age.
ReplyDeletePearl somehow seems realistic. She is definitely older than her age, because of the way she acts, the way she thinks and the way she talks. She would seem unlike a child when she sees those visions about the devil. Children her age today sometimes are forced to grow up early. It depends on their family and what they are going through. Being angry with her mother is a realistic trait because a lot of children are angry with their parents at some age in their lives.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that Pearl is a very realistic character. I believe that she is the way she is though because she is never around any other children her age. She is always around her mother which makes her more mature. There are cases where children are forced to grow up faster in modern times but not to the extent that Pearl does. It is reasonable that Pearl is angry towards her mother because her mother committing adultery is why she is in the situation that she is in that caused her to mature early.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that Pearl is very realistic. She says things far too intelligent for her age. For example, when asked where she was from, she said a rose bush. Many children her age would just give the honest answer. Many children her age today are forced to grow up at an early age because of their parents and there living conditions or situations they are faced with. I believe the anger towards her mother is a very realistic trait. In life, children hold grudges against one or both parents for things such as death, divorces and financial problems
ReplyDeleteI believe that Pearl is not a very realistic person. You don't expect a child of her age to respond to "where she came from?" to be from a rose bush. Children may be forced to grow up under several different circumstances. It could be that their parents are alcoholics and don't provide for them; it could also be that their parents are divorced and so they must adapt to living with one parent. Pearl's anger with her mother is sort of realistic because if her mother wouldn't have committed adultery Pearl would've just been like any other kid in the community.
ReplyDeletePearl is definitely far advanced beyond her years, but she is still realistic because her situation is different than others her age. Starting at a young age, Pearl has had to deal with problems that are extremely difficult situations for a child her age to and unusual for a child that young to have to deal with. Today, children grow up like she has because of lack of parenting or a parental figure in their life. On the other hand, I don't fully believe that Pearl's anger with her mother is a realistic trait. Hester has always loved Pearl and Pearl has always been her number one. Hester has never abandoned her and has always been faithful to protect her. I do think that they have a typical mother-daughter relationship because girls typically don't get along with their mothers until they have a kid and understand what parenting is like. Even if Pearl is young, I think it is still typical to rebel against your mother.
ReplyDeleteI do find the character of Pearl realistic. One reason Pearl may seem so mature is that she grew up faster due to her isolation from society and the problems she faced at a young age that some never face throughout their whole lives. It happens even today, children are forced to skip their childhoods to deal with problems they are faced with at a young age. Pearl's anger toward her mother is a realistic trait. I imagine that if I were isolated from society all my life because of something my mother did, I would harbour some amount of hatred toward her.
ReplyDeleteYes i think that the character of Peral is realistic. Sometimes when children are in unstable enviorments during the younger years they do not have stabilty which makes them mature at twice the rate of a normal child.
ReplyDeleteI do think the character Pearl is realistic, although i do believe Pearl is much too mature for her age because of the way she answered the question where did you come from. Many of the three year olds I know today would have never replied "I was plucked from a rose bush" which can make one think that she is not realistic. I believe that kids these days are forced or can grow up or mature too early. Some younger kids may have a lot of older siblings which will make them want to be like their older brother or sister, by dressing the way they do or doing the things they do. I do not believe that Pearls anger to her mother is realistic because she at such a young age you can't really comprehend what is really going on in the community.
ReplyDeletePearl isn't a realistic person because kids her age don't act or think the way she does. The way she behaves and answers questions doesn't match up to her age. Children her age are forced to grow up fast because of the situations they are in or facing. Anger does seem like a realistic trait for her because she is outcasted from the community basically because of what her mother did so anger is realistic for what she has been going through.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that Pearl is realistic. She says many things that are unreal and advanced for her age. For example, when she says she is from a rose bush. Many children her age wouldn't lie about that; if they did, it would have been a believable. I think children today are forced to grow up early because of their living conditions. Many children have unstable homes and that affects them. I believe the anger towards her mother is a very realistic trait. It is normal for children to get angry at their parents easily and hold grudges.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Pearl'c character does seem realistic. Even though she seems very mature when asked the question "Where did you come from?" and she replied "I was plucked from a rose bush," I believe that that response might have been something that came from her imagination. Three-year-olds have a huge imagination and i think that she just made up that answer and it had no actual meaning. Children today, in some situations are forced to grow up early to help out thier family in tough times. Most kids get angry with their parents so i think that this is completely realistic.
ReplyDeletePearl is not a realistic character because she does act way to mature for her age. She seems much older then she really is by the things that she says and her behavior as a child over all. She is mostly angery because of the way she is shunned by the community and her actions are violent which makes since because of the way shes growing up wiwthout a father and the reputation of her mother and herself is very difficult for her. Most children these days are forced to grow up early because of the economy and the way we are forced to live.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Pearl is not a very realistic character. To me she seems to mature for her age. She does not posses the characteristics of a three year old. I think that she doesn't act like a child is because she is not around them. She is around an adult and that is all she knows how to act. I don't think that her being angry is that realistic either. I don't think that three year olds can be legitimately angry for a period of time.
ReplyDeleteI believe Pearl's character is realistic to a certain extent. Her maturity is reasonable for her situation but her knowledge is way too great for her age. Some children are called upon to mature faster due to the position they are placed in and responsibility they must take upon such as a death of a family member.
ReplyDeletesometimes it seems unrealistic for such a young girl to show such a feeling towards her own mother, or say that she was plucked from a rosebush, or possess the immense knowledge that surpasses children of her age, but pearl is truly a pre-matured child, with a very unique set of character traits. given the situation it may be deemed necessary for pearl to act many years beyond her age, but from birth, she was already ahead of the game, so it's makes no difference now to see her so much farther in intelligence, and maturity now.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Pearl is a realistic character. She does not have the regular attributes that a young child normally has. She tends to have a much higher comprehension level about what is going on then what a normal three year old would have. She has come up with phrases and lies that a normal young child wouldn't think of saying such as being "plucked from a rose bush" when asked where she came from. Children today are forced to grow up now but they don't attain that level of maturity that fast or at the age of three. They are forced to maybe because of family situations or past history. I don't believe Pearl's anger is a realistic characteristic. Children at that young of an age have an innocence to them. They don't normally hold grudges or become that infuriated. They also do not tend to get that upset at someone they love that takes care of them such as her mother.
ReplyDeleteI think Pearl is a very realistic character. Some children are forced to grow up quickly because of the environment they grew up in or some situaions that might have accure them. Children tend to think a lot more then the other children at the same age, when the child realize something happend or they're different from others that they know of. Pearl seems so unlike a child at the time might cause by the non-prensent of a father or due to the loneness she may have.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Pearl does not seem like a very realistic character. She says intelligent things such as her remark from Wilson about being plucked from a rosebush. Pearl seems like she knows exactly whats going on in the big picture of the world and society around her. I also believe that in today's society parents expect their children to grow up faster and mature at more rapid rate, and also be more responsible. Children usually don't get upset with their parents until their in their teen years, which is why Pearl is an unusual case. Typically children get upset over small things but they tend to not hold a real grudge until their in their late teen years.
ReplyDeleteIn modern times Pearl would most definitely be described as realistic. I know of many kids that have had to grow up early due to situations that they had been raised in, like Pearls. However her anger for her mother is not as realistic because not every child has had to go through the same situation during the same time period. Her resentment towards her mother is only because she has not been able to be a child nor has she been able to have cherishable times with her own family.
ReplyDeleteYes.. Pearl does seem like a "real" character. Children today are often forced to grow past their time.. Throughout homes anger is often developed as well. Pearl has heard of her mother's disasters so I understand for any resentment shown.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe Pearl is a realistic character. Pearl appears to be highly aware of her surroundings and how she is precived in society. As for Pearl's attitude, that is the only aspect I find realistic, some children often display signs of aggression and anger towards their parents, which is normal but would not fit into the pious nature of the Puritan culture.
ReplyDeleteEven though holding anger against her mother and having to mature faster then normal because she is not around other children are realistic, i believe peal is not a realistic character because she thought she was taken from a rose bush when she was three which is not a normal though process for a young child and she does many things that are not acceptable to the Puritan Culture.
ReplyDeletePearl should seem unlike a child at times beacuse of the way she is forced to live. She has no friends so she has to mature faster to find ways of entertaning herself. Children today are still forced to "grow up early". Children are forced to do that because of bad home life and parents not taking care of the child and letting kids be kids.I find Pearl a realistic character beacuse she follows traits of many kids today.But her anger for her mom is not realistic.
ReplyDeleteI believe Pearl was forced to grow up early because of the environment she was raised in. She was scorned by the other children because of what her mother is. Many other children today have to grow up fast because of the environment they were raised in also. Some children have to take care of themselves or they even have to take care of their parents. I think Pearl is angry with her mother because in her maturity she realized that her mother is the reason why they are shunned from society.
ReplyDeleteI dont think Pearl is realistic. She speaks as with tongues not what a young seven year old would speak. She seems to know a lot for her age and thinks beyond such things. There are some children today forced to grow up like that based on their home life. If the parents are not responisble the children are usually forced by their own will to basically live on their own. They have no other choice to survive. I think Pearls anger is realistic because every child has anger for their mothers. Its a natural thing. Her anger seems beyond to everyone in our society today because we never had to deal with the Puritan way of living and the letter "A" would not matter to us as it does for them. Pearl is taking her anger based off of how she was raised and how she knows about the Scarlet Letter, which is natural in her sense.
ReplyDeleteI think pearl is realistic because there are just some kids that grow mature really fast. Children are forced to grow mature fast because of there parents and needing to survive. Hating her mom is understandable to because a lot of people dislike there parents sometime in life.
ReplyDeleteSome reasons can be becasue she doesn't have a father, and that the town shuts her out. Yes, there are many children today who are forced to grow up. It's because the parents want their child to be ready for the real world, to see what it is like. Pearl is realistic because the hate for her mother is what makes her mature more, and intellectual.
ReplyDeleteI think pearls character is not very realistic becuase perl has this comprehension level that an older child would she is to smart for her age. The anger pearl direct towards her is another example of unexpected comprehension skills, she knows the reason no one likes them in town is because of what her mom has done, what kind of three year old would be smart enought to figure that out.But maybe in pearls case she matured faster then other children due to that she didnt have a fatherly figure and had to learn how to stand for herself.
ReplyDeletePearl Was forces to grow at an early age, she grew in isolation, with no friends and in constaint torment by the people who live in Boston. She does seem to know more than she should at her young age, almost un-natural. She is a very mad person because he cant put reason behind why she is treated the way that she is. She is constaintly put down and treated as a scurge apon the town, she has just come to live with it.
ReplyDeleteI think she is very realistic. Some children are forced to grow up early, and some just mature faster than others. About the being plucked offthe rosebush statment shows this: she is alone so her imagination is free to develope however she wants it to. And of course she is angry, shes is growing up being hated and has done nothing herself to deserve it.
ReplyDeleteThe character Pearl seems realistic in a way, I have seen many children act the same as her. They too are mature for their age and also show strong anger to their parents. Pearl says things that are beyond her age intellect. They also come of as evil. She is almost haunting Hester in a way. Children her age are sometimes put in the same situatuion and also act almost identically to Pearl's behavior. These children do this, because they see how unstable their family is and they obviously dont have trust in it. So they take care of their self and they mature to the point were their capable of taking care of their self on their own. Pearls anger is a realistic trait. Children show anger towards the ones they have, because they put them in this situation, They also are mad because of their lack of a father.
ReplyDeleteI think Pear is realistic. Pearl is mature for her age and many children are like that. She seems unlike a child at time because children that are mature don't act like bullies like her. Being angry at your mother is very realistic and i bet every child at one point in their life has disliked their mother.
ReplyDeleteI do believe Pearl is realistic. But she is unlike most children because she is isolated unlike children. She lives with a mature adult and never hangs out with people her age. She is never forced to grow up fast, but she needs to, to survive. Also she is angry with her mother because she can not talk or be with other children. She does not like the isolation.
ReplyDeleteA symbol that people wear today to represent their pride in something could be simple as wearing a graphic tee with a flag of their country on it. Another way is tattoos. For example people who are proud of their parents will often get their names tattooed on their arms or body because they are doing it as a memorial of them. These outwards symbols can say that we are dedicated to what we believe in and that we are very opinionated enough to permanently mark out bodies or wear something out in public where you can be judged.
ReplyDeleteBrielle Schiff- I do think that Pearl is a realistic character because they way she reacts to her mother. Just because she is more mature for her age does not mean that she is unrealistic. Yes Pearl did have to grow up for her age because of the circumstances. But she does represent something negative which could come back on her so she makes her attitude something greater than what she represents.
ReplyDeleteYes, i do think that Pearl is a realistic character in the book because she follows what her mother does or do. All little girls do that in real life. Pearl had if rough at the young age because of her mom and what she did so she had to step up and grow up.
ReplyDelete