Yes, Pearl does find out who her father is; she knows it is Arthur Dimmesdale. Her understanding of his paternity is intuitive and evident throughout the narrative, culminating in moments where she clearly signals her desire for him to acknowledge their bond publicly.
Pearl's Deep-Seated Awareness of Dimmesdale's Paternity
Pearl, the child of Hester Prynne and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, possesses an innate and profound awareness of her father's identity long before he publicly confesses. This knowledge is not a discovery she makes through external revelation but rather an intuitive understanding that is part of her unique character.
Key instances and insights demonstrating Pearl's knowledge include:
- The Scaffold Scene: A pivotal moment occurs when Hester and Pearl return from Governor Winthrop's deathbed. They encounter Dimmesdale on the town's scaffold in the dead of night. During this encounter, Pearl directly challenges Dimmesdale, asking him twice, "Wilt thou stand here with mother and me, to-morrow noontide?" This repeated question is not a random inquiry; Pearl knows that Dimmesdale is her father. Her profound desire is for him to confess his hidden sin, which she believes will allow them to live together peacefully and openly as a family. Her insistent question highlights her yearning for this public acknowledgment.
- Symbolic Connections: Pearl frequently draws attention to Dimmesdale's habit of clutching his hand over his heart, a gesture that implicitly links him to Hester's scarlet letter "A" and the secret sin they share. She often tries to connect him to the letter, either by pointing to it or to his own hidden pain, demonstrating her intuitive grasp of their shared burden and his paternal role.
Pearl's knowledge of Dimmesdale's identity is thus a fundamental aspect of her character, driving her actions and observations throughout the story as she yearns for her father to embrace his true identity.
