Symbolism is when a writer uses an object or sign in a physical form to represent an idea. The use of symbolism was popular in the Romantic period of literature from around 1800 to 1850. Nathaniel Hawthorne is known for his use of symbolism in his stories. In 1850, Hawthorne used this technique while writing The Scarlet Letter. He did this to make the reader think deeper about the story, and to make it have a figurative meaning. A symbol doesn’t always have to be an object or a sign, in the case of The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses Pearl and many other people as symbols. Settings, or where the story takes place, can be used as a symbol as well. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses symbolism while portraying Pearl, Dimmesdale’s “sickness”, and through the scarlet letter.
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Pearl was the daughter of Hester and Reverend Dimmesdale, even though Hester was married to Roger Chillingworth at the time. Hester had an affair with Dimmesdale thinking that he husband was not coming to America like he promised. In the Puritan society, Hester was really looked down upon for committing adultery and was made as an example of sin to all woman. In the story, Pearl is used as a symbol to represent the outcome of sin and is a reminder to Hester and Dimmesdale of their sins. When she was younger, she had the instinct to read for the scarlet letter and was always curious about the meaning behind it; Hester was alway trying to make excuses to not explain the meaning to Pearl. Pearl herself is not a well-behaved child and would threw rocks at kids. Puritans would refer to Pearl as the “devil’s child” and saw her only as the outcome of a sinful
Pearl was the daughter of Hester and Reverend Dimmesdale, even though Hester was married to Roger Chillingworth at the time. Hester had an affair with Dimmesdale thinking that he husband was not coming to America like he promised. In the Puritan society, Hester was really looked down upon for committing adultery and was made as an example of sin to all woman. In the story, Pearl is used as a symbol to represent the outcome of sin and is a reminder to Hester and Dimmesdale of their sins. When she was younger, she had the instinct to read for the scarlet letter and was always curious about the meaning behind it; Hester was alway trying to make excuses to not explain the meaning to Pearl. Pearl herself is not a well-behaved child and would threw rocks at kids. Puritans would refer to Pearl as the “devil’s child” and saw her only as the outcome of a sinful