“Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. . . . It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!” “Nor ever will, my child, I hope,” said Hester. “And why not, mother?” asked Pearl, stopping short. . . . “Will it not come of its own accord, when I am a woman grown?” (page 141)
This quote explains the significance of the scarlet letter and the effect of sin in the daily life of all of the main characters. Pearl notices the "lack of sunshine in her mother’s life" and how it has to do with the scarlet letter. Pearl, as a little girl cannot understand the significance of the scarlet letter and what it means to Hester. However, Pearl can understand that the lack of sunshine in her mother's life is caused by something, and she makes the assumption that it is due to the scarlet letter. Pearl thinks that all women must wear the scarlet letter, but Hester informs her that she wishes and hopes this will not be the case. This shows that Pearl, as a immature, yet observable character, thinks that the letter, which represents sin, is simply a part of every human being.
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