Essay On Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter

Symbolism has been in human history since the very beginning, especially in books and poems. It is a way to teach and reach a better understanding of our world or an idea. Nathaniel Hawthorne provides many examples of symbolism in his novel, The Scarlet Letter. Every character provides a different idea, but they are all related and share the topic of sin. You might ask what the scarlet letter, the central symbol of the book, could mean. The Scarlet Letter was a symbol that right after you see it, the image you had of that person, changes completely and forever. Everyone was very quick to judge without even knowing the circumstances. That's the thing, all of humanity, especially these people, who are all mostly Puritans, are quick to judge without looking on the inside. Everybody may just be jumping to conclusions because that action goes hand in hand with wrongly discerning. …show more content…
While growing up, Pearl had always seen the letter and saw it as a part of her mother. This symbolizes the insignificance of the cities and community's judgment and punishment. Pearl is a gift from God, but also a curse because she is a constant reminder to Hester and Dimmesdale of their sin. Pearl is not only a vital character in the book, but a great symbol. Ever since Pearl was a toddler, she always had a strange way of thinking and acting. She always spoke of things in a spiritual, dark and mysterious manner. This symbolized that she was a child born out of sin and has a sinful nature, but she also symbolizes the passion and love that brought her into this world in the first place. Her attitude is a consequence of her father, who is a minister, keeping his sin a secret. It was not until the secret of Dimmesdale being the father was revealed that Pearl begins to act like a "normal human being." In a way, that gives us an idea that when we confess our sin, we can finally let it go and continue to develop our