Entry 17

Entry 17

"...they gazed wonderingly and admiringly at Pearl, as if a flake of the sea-foam had taken the shape of a little maid, and were gifted with a soul of the sea-fire, that flashes beneath the prow in the night-time" (Hawthorne, Chapter 22).

This is an excellent metaphor for Pearl's personality and character. Sea foam is typically seen as something pure and innocent. It can also be viewed as an item of beauty, due to Aphrodite being born from the sea foam in Greek mythology. By saying that Pearl is made of sea foam, we can infer that her character contains those traits. The metaphor also speaks of Pearl's stubborn and strong-willed side when speaking of sea fire.