Justin Hearn
Mrs. Voshell
Honors English 10
6 January 2017
Hawthorne’s Diversified Use of the Scarlet Letter Hawthorne’s use of symbolism within The Scarlet Letter constitutes the use of objects, characters, settings, etc. to help unfurl an extravagantly woven tale around the ‘moral’ of the book from beginning to end. Within this though, Hawthorne’s use of symbolism is one that at times takes certain signature symbols within his stories and applies a different meaning of that symbol towards the characters within his stories such as the scarlet letter in this case. The scarlet letter is the main symbol of the book itself and Hawthorne’s highbrow use of literary techniques helps to apply different meanings of the symbol to different characters …show more content…
The letter is part of Hester’s punishment that she had been sentenced by the magistrates at the beginning of the novel. The letter is not something that Hester has the ability to hide away from plain sight, but instead the crimson symbol is one that is pinned onto her bosom for all to see. It is intentionally designed that way to let the townspeople know of the act that Hester had committed out of “...human frailty and sorrow” (Hawthorne 55). As Hester carries this symbol of ignominy the meaning of it is something that changes in her somewhat over time, but from the start “...Hester’s “A” stands for adultery…” (Johnson 128). Again, as Hester’s story unfolds more and as her character begins to shape her into more of an able-bodied free thinker the scarlet letter never loses its true purpose to her and that is as a reminder to her of her sin. Unlike for Hester though, the scarlet letter was something that had been easily concealed by her fellow …show more content…
Pearl stands as a complicated symbol of the passion and lust that had been held between Hester and Dimmesdale and acts as a reminder of that to Hester constantly. At the beginning of the novel Hester takes pride in ensuring that Pearl is dressed in extravagantly embroidered crimson clothing which only makes her look more like a living, breathing embodiment of the scarlet letter. Pearl had been unlike any other child in her community by having random fits of laughter, anger and violence. Many of the townspeople, due to this, had begun to think of her as a demon child. Even for Hester at times she was not sure that Pearl was of “...flesh and blood, and not utterly delusive” (Hawthorne. 102). Overtime Pearl’s interest with the scarlet letter had grown, as even at birth, she could be seen gazing into the scarlet letter, fascinated by its mere appearance. As Pearl grew older she began playing games with her mother’s letter by throwing flowers at it and even daring to attempt to ask Hester what the letter had meant. It can be seen as the novel progresses that Pearl’s fascination with the “A” turns into more of an obsession overtime. Being conceived through the sin of others, Pearl had never known where she had truly come from until come the end of the novel and as where like she had been the pure spiritual representation of the
Mrs. Voshell
Honors English 10
6 January 2017
Hawthorne’s Diversified Use of the Scarlet Letter Hawthorne’s use of symbolism within The Scarlet Letter constitutes the use of objects, characters, settings, etc. to help unfurl an extravagantly woven tale around the ‘moral’ of the book from beginning to end. Within this though, Hawthorne’s use of symbolism is one that at times takes certain signature symbols within his stories and applies a different meaning of that symbol towards the characters within his stories such as the scarlet letter in this case. The scarlet letter is the main symbol of the book itself and Hawthorne’s highbrow use of literary techniques helps to apply different meanings of the symbol to different characters …show more content…
The letter is part of Hester’s punishment that she had been sentenced by the magistrates at the beginning of the novel. The letter is not something that Hester has the ability to hide away from plain sight, but instead the crimson symbol is one that is pinned onto her bosom for all to see. It is intentionally designed that way to let the townspeople know of the act that Hester had committed out of “...human frailty and sorrow” (Hawthorne 55). As Hester carries this symbol of ignominy the meaning of it is something that changes in her somewhat over time, but from the start “...Hester’s “A” stands for adultery…” (Johnson 128). Again, as Hester’s story unfolds more and as her character begins to shape her into more of an able-bodied free thinker the scarlet letter never loses its true purpose to her and that is as a reminder to her of her sin. Unlike for Hester though, the scarlet letter was something that had been easily concealed by her fellow …show more content…
Pearl stands as a complicated symbol of the passion and lust that had been held between Hester and Dimmesdale and acts as a reminder of that to Hester constantly. At the beginning of the novel Hester takes pride in ensuring that Pearl is dressed in extravagantly embroidered crimson clothing which only makes her look more like a living, breathing embodiment of the scarlet letter. Pearl had been unlike any other child in her community by having random fits of laughter, anger and violence. Many of the townspeople, due to this, had begun to think of her as a demon child. Even for Hester at times she was not sure that Pearl was of “...flesh and blood, and not utterly delusive” (Hawthorne. 102). Overtime Pearl’s interest with the scarlet letter had grown, as even at birth, she could be seen gazing into the scarlet letter, fascinated by its mere appearance. As Pearl grew older she began playing games with her mother’s letter by throwing flowers at it and even daring to attempt to ask Hester what the letter had meant. It can be seen as the novel progresses that Pearl’s fascination with the “A” turns into more of an obsession overtime. Being conceived through the sin of others, Pearl had never known where she had truly come from until come the end of the novel and as where like she had been the pure spiritual representation of the