Symbolism In Scarlet Letter

Why would an author put symbolism in his writing? Can it make a story interesting, mysterious, or puzzling? In the scarlet letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne the "A", the rosebush, and the black man are prominent parts of symbolism in the story. First the A in the book is worn by Hester and it means adultery. The a’s very important because it made Hester stand out and it brought more character to her. This specific letter a.k.a the scarlet letter Hester wore on her chest made up the storyline as a sinner everyone knows about. “Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast,—at her, the child of honorable parents,—at her, the mother of a babe, that would hereafter be a woman, —at
her, who had once been innocent, —as the figure, the body, the reality of sin. (Pg 82) Sin was very big back then and to wear that A was punishment. Second the rosebush was important to the story because it symbolized life and beauty outside the prison door as people came in and for the others rotting away. “But, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him”. (Pg. 50). Another quote to show importance would be “It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom… or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow”. I like these quotes because they explain why the rosebush was mentioned even though it’s only brought up a few times it’s significance is deep. Lastly the black man in the story which brings mystery and a reader on their toes. Reading about him made me want to find out who he was, what he means, and why was he in the forest so creepy like. “Art thou like the Black Man that haunts the forest round about us? Hast thou enticed me into a bond that will prove the ruin of my soul?” (http://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/sl04.html and Pg. 80). The black man’s part in the story is to question if people are evil or bad by nature or do people chose to go down a certain path. Pearl thought either chillingworth and dimmesdale were the black man because of dimmesdale's heart thing and they both go in and out the woods. He takes up a portion of the book with interesting detail and great symbolism to the devil. In the book written by Nathaniel Hawthorne I’ve got a sense of religion, good plot, and a non boring moment. This story keeps you wanting to read with its characters, but hooks you with the symbolism that ties everything together. The “A”, the rosebush, and the black man are prominent parts of the Scarlet letter.