The most significant symbolic meaning of Pearl in the novel is her association
with the scarlet letter "A". When Hester stood fully revealed before the
crowd, it is her first impulse to clasp Pearl closely to her bosom; "not
so much by an impulse of motherly affection, as that she might thereby
conceal a certain token, which was wrought or fastened into her dress."
"In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would
but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her arm…"
Hester embroidered the scarlet letter with gold thread fantastically, and
she had…
