Hester's Cottage Symbolism

Throughout the book the Scarlet Letter there are many symbols that have an important meaning either to Hester and Pearl or other main characters. Some of these symbols such as the rosebush outside the prison, the scaffold and Governor Bellingham's suit of armor are important. However, out of all these symbols there are three that stand out the most which is Nature, the Forest, and Hester's cottage. Each one representing something special to Hester and her daughter Pearl; Nature kept Pearl from being contaminated, the forest gave Pearl a place to live in peace and play, and the cottage represents a safe place where Hester and Pearl can get away from the rest of the world. The symbol of nature is important to Hester and Pearl throughout the …show more content…
Hester feel at ease within her cottage away from the people of Boston either judging her or assaulting her and Pearl by throwing objects such as mud or rocks. In the cottage she is free to do as she please and she did just that by sewing clothes that became popular within the town of Boston. “By degrees, nor very slowly, her handiwork became what would now be termed the fashion….But it is not recorded that, in a single instance, her skill was called in aid to embroider the white veil which was to cover the pure blushes of a bride”( Hawthorne 47-48). In stating this it shows Hester had the freedom to do something she loved, but the only downside to was because of her sin she was not allowed to make a wedding dress. The cottage in forest was a peaceful place where Pearl could roam around in the forest and return to her mother who waiting for her to finish with imaginary adventures throughout the …show more content…
Nature is a place that is pure, lawless, free and is the main reason why Pearl is kept from being influenced by the people of Boston. Nature and Pearl are both connected when is comes to symbol of kindness and strength through the rosebush outside the prison door. The rosebush is nature's symbol of kindness towards Hester, a rosebush that grew in a harsh and hostile environment and still bloomed. This is much like Pearl as she was kind and also grew up in a hostile environment of Boston. The forest to me was like a wall that kept them safe from being persecuted. As for the cottage was a sanctuary for Hester and Pearl, a place in which they are not judged by noone and are able to live their lives in peace. This was also a place where Hester was able to discover her true self and learned to accept the “A” not as punishment or curse ,but as a blessing since Pearl was her gift from