Nature In The Scarlet Letter

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In The Scarlet Letter, nature has a large presence and significance introduced by Nathaniel Hawthorne. There are several examples of Hawthorne using aspects of nature and using imagery to grasp a hold of the nature and natural setting that Hawthorne used to play around the whole plot of the novel. Nature is the breeding ground of symbolism and Pearl’s playmates in the novel. A significant part of the plot revolves around nature, even though it is not stated specifically. Nature holds a large amount of magnitude in the novel because it holds a lot of symbolism and plays an integral part of the story.

First of all, Puritans and Puritan society have a negative connotation associated with the forest, which is the breeding ground of all nature. Nature acts in contrast with Puritan society. Hawthorne mentioned in the first chapter that “the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him” (46). In the novel, Pearl asks her mother about the black man, which is a euphemism for the devil. Supposedly, the “Black Man” lives in the forest, which frightens anyone from wandering in there. This plays an important role in the novel. Due to the fact that Puritans are very religious, saying that the devil resides in the forest was bound to keep people away. This shows a lot about Puritan society,
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Nathaniel Hawthorne makes nature apart of the the whole story. The author using aspects of nature and using imagery to grasp a hold of the nature and natural setting that is involved within the story. Nature is a critical piece of the synopsis of The Scarlet Letter. It symbolizes the unknown to most Puritans, but is is a gleam of hope for Hester and Pearl. From symbolism to Pearl’s playmates, nature has a large significance in the novel because it holds a lot of symbolism and plays an integral part of the

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