The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a novel that has an abundance of symbolism. Some of the symbols play an extensive role in the novel, while other symbols portray a considerably smaller aspect of the author’s message. There were three symbols that really stood out among the rest and they are: the scarlet letter, the scaffold, and Pearl. These three not only stood out the most, but were consistently mentioned over the course of the novel. Some of the symbols had greater religious ties with the Puritan lifestyle than others. Religious or not, the scarlet letter, the scaffold, and Pearl are the three most important symbols throughout Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter. Each symbol has different uses depending on who the user
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Over the course of the book this is easily the symbol that is mentioned most often. Also, what the letter represents completely changes over time. In chapter two, the letter is described as something that “had the effect of a spell, taking her out of ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself” (Hawthorne 51). The quote presents the letter as a form of punishment and shame. The Puritans use it to remind Hester of her sin, adultery. It is originally completely about shame until the middle of the book where some townspeople say that the “A” means “’Able’; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (Hawthorne 152). By chapter thirteen, when this quote takes place, Hester has done enough good deeds within the Puritan community that the “A” on her chest has taken a different meaning to some. Some people now feel that the Scarlet Letter symbolizes strength and goodness, something of which Hester should be proud, not ashamed. This line is completely contradictory to the basic ideal of Puritan society; punishment. This is a perfect example of how Hawthorne attacks the Puritan community and labels the Puritans as hypocrites. By the end of the book, the letter represents Hester as a whole. This is shown in chapter nineteen at the brook side after Hester removes the letter, when Pearl hesitates to run to her mother and instead points at the spot where the letter usually is. This just shows how the symbolism behind the scarlet letter has developed into something that represents Hester as a whole. Her own daughter does not even recognize her without the letter. This scene is very interesting because it is here at the brook side that Hester feels a sense of freedom from here punishment. The scene is an example of nature going against the community, “At length, assuming singular air of authority, Pearl stretched out her hand, with the small
Over the course of the book this is easily the symbol that is mentioned most often. Also, what the letter represents completely changes over time. In chapter two, the letter is described as something that “had the effect of a spell, taking her out of ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself” (Hawthorne 51). The quote presents the letter as a form of punishment and shame. The Puritans use it to remind Hester of her sin, adultery. It is originally completely about shame until the middle of the book where some townspeople say that the “A” means “’Able’; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (Hawthorne 152). By chapter thirteen, when this quote takes place, Hester has done enough good deeds within the Puritan community that the “A” on her chest has taken a different meaning to some. Some people now feel that the Scarlet Letter symbolizes strength and goodness, something of which Hester should be proud, not ashamed. This line is completely contradictory to the basic ideal of Puritan society; punishment. This is a perfect example of how Hawthorne attacks the Puritan community and labels the Puritans as hypocrites. By the end of the book, the letter represents Hester as a whole. This is shown in chapter nineteen at the brook side after Hester removes the letter, when Pearl hesitates to run to her mother and instead points at the spot where the letter usually is. This just shows how the symbolism behind the scarlet letter has developed into something that represents Hester as a whole. Her own daughter does not even recognize her without the letter. This scene is very interesting because it is here at the brook side that Hester feels a sense of freedom from here punishment. The scene is an example of nature going against the community, “At length, assuming singular air of authority, Pearl stretched out her hand, with the small