Throughout her life, Hester Prynne had to suffer through much judgement and isolation due to her scarlet sin. Hawthorne uses the symbolism of the scarlet letter as an examination of ability to overcome limitations and also as an evaluation on Puritan society in the 1700’s. Though the scarlet letter initially represents the sin of adultery committed by Hester before the story begins, ultimately it came to represent many different positive aspects of her character as the story progresses. Within this essay, the scarlet letters role as a symbol of adultery, ability, and anglicism will be examined.
Starting off in the novel, the scarlet letter is a symbol of Hester's sin of adultery and is meant to have her stick out like sore thumb in the community …show more content…
In the conclusion of the story the letter represents Hester as an angel who is alone in the world, this is exemplified by Hawthorne when he writes “unvalued and unsought,- came to Hester's cottage, demanding why they were so wretched… On a field, sable, the letter A, gules(203)”. When we look at this quote the analogy between Hester and her role as an angelic figure, she serves as a hearer of troubles, a role in the catholic church reserved for priests. The second portion of the quote refers to the scarlet A on Hester's grave, this is representative of the A’s symbol of her anglicism, that it stays with her in death is proof that she believed it was a positive symbol, it made her more involved in her community as a somewhat traditional priest role. Evolution of the scarlet letter throughout the story shows how the letter was able to evolve in Hester's mind into something she can be nearly proud of, which explains why she returns to Boston and resumes her wearing of the letter, it now means to her personally Angle, reflected in her inner thoughts when she thinks,”The angel and apostle of the coming revolution must be a woman indeed(203)”. Symbolism regarding the scarlet letter changes periodically throughout the story finding its final resting place, literally, with Hester as
Starting off in the novel, the scarlet letter is a symbol of Hester's sin of adultery and is meant to have her stick out like sore thumb in the community …show more content…
In the conclusion of the story the letter represents Hester as an angel who is alone in the world, this is exemplified by Hawthorne when he writes “unvalued and unsought,- came to Hester's cottage, demanding why they were so wretched… On a field, sable, the letter A, gules(203)”. When we look at this quote the analogy between Hester and her role as an angelic figure, she serves as a hearer of troubles, a role in the catholic church reserved for priests. The second portion of the quote refers to the scarlet A on Hester's grave, this is representative of the A’s symbol of her anglicism, that it stays with her in death is proof that she believed it was a positive symbol, it made her more involved in her community as a somewhat traditional priest role. Evolution of the scarlet letter throughout the story shows how the letter was able to evolve in Hester's mind into something she can be nearly proud of, which explains why she returns to Boston and resumes her wearing of the letter, it now means to her personally Angle, reflected in her inner thoughts when she thinks,”The angel and apostle of the coming revolution must be a woman indeed(203)”. Symbolism regarding the scarlet letter changes periodically throughout the story finding its final resting place, literally, with Hester as