"How he haunts this forest, and carries a book with,--a big, heavy book, with iron clasps; and how this ugly Black Man offers his book and an iron pen to everybody that meets him here among the trees;..." ((Chapter 16/PAGE 161))
This is said by Pearl, who we are to assume is either a very intuitive and intelligent little girl, or a little imp! In chapter 18 she transforms into a fairy/wood-nymph, which in certain folklores, are said to be repelled by iron. It has been said that people would wield iron or lay it around their houses or villages to repel faeries and little woodland spirits from entering their houses and stealing their things. This could be the reason why Pearl asks of the Black Man so frequently for she is scared of the iron he possesses.
The symbolism of iron is the life force within someone, as blood (which is coloured red!) has the presence of iron as well as the smell of it. The book that the Black Man carries is coated in iron most likely due to the life that he has sucked from the people he's encountered. The names that are written in the book are sketched in blood according to Pearl which further proves this. Pearl is scared and curious of the Black Man because she fears her mother must've written her name in the book to receive the letter on her chest, which Pearl must think has been eating away at her. (Which would give Pearl her purpose of trying to save Hester from the shame and pain of her crime.)
Very interesting post. Iron, blood and the "A" written in red. Is Pearl really scared of the Black Man or just curious?
ReplyDelete