The Significance of the Names

It is obvious that Hawthorne didn't pick just any names for his characters. The names Pearl, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale all have meaning to them. A peal is formed from an irritation (or in this case Hester's sin). Pearl is Hester's treasure- they are forced to live together alone as rejects of society. Pearls name comes from the biblical device, the "pearl of great price". Pearl cost Hester everything. Hester is looked down upon by her entire comminunity. She has no friends, no husband, and is forced to wear a scarlet letter every day for the rest of her life. The next significant name is Chillingworth. Chillingworth is a malicious, vengeful man. The reader can understand that he is cold and scary just by his name. The last significant name is Dimmesdale. When I hear the name Dimmesdale, I think of a dim, weak, uncorageous man. Dimmesdale, in my opinion, is a weak, uncorageous man.