Symbolism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlett Letter
In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthrone, symbolism plays an important role. The symbols are apparent throughout the novel and reoccur in different places. The Scarlet Letter contains symbols including: the letter “A”, Pearl, and the scaffold. Hester Prynne performs an act of adultery and as a punishment; she is giving the scarlet letter. The scarlet letter is most important symbol in the book, hence the books title. The scarlet letter, at first, is meant to represent shame and sin. The “a” literally represents adultery and Hester’s criminal act. The red coloring of the “a” symbolizes passion, love, and sin. Later in the book, the letter’s symbol becomes different to each of the characters. To Hester the letter
means embarrassment and humiliation from the Puritan society. "Hester looked, by way of humoring the child; and she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it." This quote shows how the Puritan community doesn’t see Hester as the person she is, but as a sinner. The letter, to Dimsdale, represents his guilt and responsibility to Hester’s crime. It constantly reminds him of his own sin throughout the book. To Chillingworth the letter symbolizes the revenge he must take on Dimsdale. On the "Hester looked, by way of humoring the child; and she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it." other hand, to pearl, the “a” represents her existence and meaning of life. Another symbol is the scaffold. The scaffold is brought up in the beginning, middle and end of the book. It is mentioned during the three climaxes of the story. The first mentioning represents Hester’s sin to the Puritian’s judgmental community. In the middle, the scaffold represents a safe place for Dimsdale to confess his sin to God. It is the only place where Dimsdale is free from Chillingworth and his community. The ending of the book, the scaffold represents the acknowledgement of sin. This is where Dimsdale takes Hester and Pearl and openly admits his sin to the world. He finally lives with his sin and accepts Pearl as his daughter. Pearl is a symbol that represents good and evil To Hester, Pearl is the only thing she loves and cares about. Without Pearl, Hester would be unhappy. But it also represents Hester’s sin and how she can never escape it. "...with the scarlet token of infamy on her breast; with the sin-born infant in her arms; with a whole people, drawn forth as to a festival, staring at the features that should have been seen only in the quiet gleam of the fireside." This quote shows how Pearl represents Hester’s crime and shame but can never hide it. The symbols that Haethrone uses are very important in The Scarlet Letter. The symbols help the reader understand the book. They show the characters inner feelings and thoughts throughout the book. The symbols show that they form who we are and how other people look upon us.
In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthrone, symbolism plays an important role. The symbols are apparent throughout the novel and reoccur in different places. The Scarlet Letter contains symbols including: the letter “A”, Pearl, and the scaffold. Hester Prynne performs an act of adultery and as a punishment; she is giving the scarlet letter. The scarlet letter is most important symbol in the book, hence the books title. The scarlet letter, at first, is meant to represent shame and sin. The “a” literally represents adultery and Hester’s criminal act. The red coloring of the “a” symbolizes passion, love, and sin. Later in the book, the letter’s symbol becomes different to each of the characters. To Hester the letter
means embarrassment and humiliation from the Puritan society. "Hester looked, by way of humoring the child; and she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it." This quote shows how the Puritan community doesn’t see Hester as the person she is, but as a sinner. The letter, to Dimsdale, represents his guilt and responsibility to Hester’s crime. It constantly reminds him of his own sin throughout the book. To Chillingworth the letter symbolizes the revenge he must take on Dimsdale. On the "Hester looked, by way of humoring the child; and she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it." other hand, to pearl, the “a” represents her existence and meaning of life. Another symbol is the scaffold. The scaffold is brought up in the beginning, middle and end of the book. It is mentioned during the three climaxes of the story. The first mentioning represents Hester’s sin to the Puritian’s judgmental community. In the middle, the scaffold represents a safe place for Dimsdale to confess his sin to God. It is the only place where Dimsdale is free from Chillingworth and his community. The ending of the book, the scaffold represents the acknowledgement of sin. This is where Dimsdale takes Hester and Pearl and openly admits his sin to the world. He finally lives with his sin and accepts Pearl as his daughter. Pearl is a symbol that represents good and evil To Hester, Pearl is the only thing she loves and cares about. Without Pearl, Hester would be unhappy. But it also represents Hester’s sin and how she can never escape it. "...with the scarlet token of infamy on her breast; with the sin-born infant in her arms; with a whole people, drawn forth as to a festival, staring at the features that should have been seen only in the quiet gleam of the fireside." This quote shows how Pearl represents Hester’s crime and shame but can never hide it. The symbols that Haethrone uses are very important in The Scarlet Letter. The symbols help the reader understand the book. They show the characters inner feelings and thoughts throughout the book. The symbols show that they form who we are and how other people look upon us.