Hawthorne’s Hester Every word and every sentence is carefully selected by Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter. Every part of the work portrays meaning and every part is important. Therefore, to get an unabridged analysis of a character in the book, the reader must look at each action of the character and the character’s image in the book as a whole. Imagery, symbolism, and setting are important factors to take into account of throughout a literary work. Imagery denotes the visual description of the language. For instance, a point of imagery in The Scarlet Letter can be seen in the statement, “and in the deep forest, where only the old trees can hear, and the strip of sky see it, he talks with thee, sitting on a heap of moss!” (Hawthorne146).
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In The Scarlett Letter probably the most famous and most talked about symbol is the rose bush. The novel started out describing the rose bush outside of the prison doors in which Hester was held, “covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems... next to the prison door with its rusty, ponderous iron-work” (Hawthorne 36-37). In 1953, Roy Male gave a speech regarding what he believed this scene was telling the reader. He suggested, “the chief conflict of the book, introduced in the opening chapter, ‘The Prison Door’ is the organic mechanical antithesis, the struggle between individual development and restrictive society” (Bush 255). Hawthorne made the book’s purpose clear from the very first pages. The rose bush does not only symbolize the diversity and struggle between an individual and society, but specifically Hester and society. The symbolism of the rose bush used briefly foreshadows the struggles of the whole novel. Hester becomes an outcast as she is showered in embarrassment and scorning, yet she stays passionate to Pearl, the towns people and Dimmsdale. There are many interpretations of the rose bush outside of the prison door. Another is that the rose bush, so beautifully described is a symbol of Gods’ grace. The prison door brings up the concepts of forgiveness and grace. The rose bush is meant to give question to the reader early on, what will happen? Will the town give Hester grace like God had given or punishment like she has deserved? The symbolism of the rose bush, a singal image, shows the conflict between Hester and the townspeople as well as, foreshadows the entire story before the entirety of characters are even
In The Scarlett Letter probably the most famous and most talked about symbol is the rose bush. The novel started out describing the rose bush outside of the prison doors in which Hester was held, “covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems... next to the prison door with its rusty, ponderous iron-work” (Hawthorne 36-37). In 1953, Roy Male gave a speech regarding what he believed this scene was telling the reader. He suggested, “the chief conflict of the book, introduced in the opening chapter, ‘The Prison Door’ is the organic mechanical antithesis, the struggle between individual development and restrictive society” (Bush 255). Hawthorne made the book’s purpose clear from the very first pages. The rose bush does not only symbolize the diversity and struggle between an individual and society, but specifically Hester and society. The symbolism of the rose bush used briefly foreshadows the struggles of the whole novel. Hester becomes an outcast as she is showered in embarrassment and scorning, yet she stays passionate to Pearl, the towns people and Dimmsdale. There are many interpretations of the rose bush outside of the prison door. Another is that the rose bush, so beautifully described is a symbol of Gods’ grace. The prison door brings up the concepts of forgiveness and grace. The rose bush is meant to give question to the reader early on, what will happen? Will the town give Hester grace like God had given or punishment like she has deserved? The symbolism of the rose bush, a singal image, shows the conflict between Hester and the townspeople as well as, foreshadows the entire story before the entirety of characters are even