Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, inherits Roger Chillingworth's fortune and leaves for Europe. This provides her with the financial security and social standing she never had in Boston. Her departure symbolizes her liberation from the constraints of her past and her mother's scarlet letter. Although the novel doesn't explicitly state her future, Pearl's inheritance suggests she will live a life of comfort and freedom.
The ending leaves much to the imagination, but it implies that Pearl, unlike her mother, will not be defined by the societal shame of her origins.
Additional Insight:
- Pearl's transformation: Throughout the novel, Pearl is a wild and independent spirit, often seen as a symbol of Hester's sin. However, her inheritance and departure to Europe represent a shift toward a more conventional life.
- Symbolism of Pearl's inheritance: Chillingworth, the embodiment of revenge and darkness, bequeathing his wealth to Pearl is symbolic of the cycle of sin and redemption ending.
- Pearl's fate: While the novel leaves her future open-ended, her departure suggests a brighter future for Pearl, free from the judgment and prejudice she faced in Boston.
