Pearl’s story and struggle really appeal to me. I think that finding one’s voice and power is a widely appealing storyline, but I’ve never found a character I related to more. I really appreciate the nuance with which femininity and power are portrayed in pearls arc. I know there are other lenses that you can look at pearl through, but this is the one that resonates most with my life experience.
Pearl is created knowing she is unimportant, and she is made knowing she has duties. Pearls are to be quiet and submissive, competent and independent, beautiful, and most importantly, to lend an air of status to their superiors. This was the femininity I grew up with. Pearls early life highlights how in conforming to these expectations, femininity grants you social power.
Unfortunately for pearl, this social power is very conditional. Once pearl moves to acknowledge and actualize her desires for justice and respect (and love!) she is shunned and othered. The renegade pearl simply does not have enough power to change the current system of power from within.
The next time we see her chronologically, she aims to suppress bitterness about her relationship with Rose. Pearl has broken out of the enforced prejudice of the diamond authority, but has not truly escaped. Vestiges of prejudice linger in pearls mind and actions, as well as Roses. Rose did not need to keep keeping secrets, she did not need to keep operating as if she alone knew best.
