Sunshine Symbolism In Scarlet Letter

In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the sunshine is used as a symbol to suggest happiness among the characters. The reason this symbol stands out is because there were numerous times in the novel where Pearl speaks of the sunshine hiding or fleeing from Hester. The reason for the sunshine disappearing on Hester is because sunshine represents happiness and as long as Hester wears her scarlet letter “A”, she will never be happy. There are several aspects in the story where the topic of sunshine is touched on. For example, in chapter 16, pearl is speaking with her mother about sunshine disappearing from her. “Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. . . . It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!” This is one representation of happiness. So long as Hester wears her scarlet letter, she will always be saddened by the burden of her being isolated from the town she once called home. The town now knows her as a disgrace. Except for her little Pearl who still has much to learn. Pearl begins to realize things about the way people react at her and her mother. She knows that they are different from others and that
Over time, those features disappeared due to the weight of the scarlet letter on her heart. She put her hair into a formal cap, wore conservative clothing. Her blush was gone and her eyes seemed darker. When she casted off the scarlet letter all her feature returned to her. Not only is the sunshine a sign of happiness, but Hester regaining her old beauty as well. As soon as she put the letter back on for Pearl, the sunshine went away along with her features, and her happiness. As one could see, sunshine is an important symbol in The Scarlet Letter, because happiness is an important variable in life and this was something Hester did not have for a very long