Nathaniel Hawthorne 's The Scarlet Letter finds itself in the hands of high schoolers all across America; but, why? One may argue many reasons, but Hawthorne 's use of literary elements as well as tone throughout the book allows for readers to have a deeper understanding of the plot. Hawthorne facilitates such through the use of symbolism, in which an optimistic tone presents itself. Additionally, throughout the novel, he incorporates imagery in which a somber tone prevails. Hawthorne gives readers one more treat by using figurative language through an ever growing intruding tone. The use of these three elements in correlation to what they depict allows for The Scarlet Letter to assume superiority to most novels. In short, by using literary elements to display optimistic tones, somber tones, alongside intruding tones allows for The Scarlett Letter to give readers a better understanding of the plot.
To begin, throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter, the use of symbolism flourishes; …show more content…
Here, the ladies of the town gossip about Hester, one going as far as to say the scarlet letter presented too little of a punishment; execution seemed more fitting. These ladies stood in front of an “ugly edifice, and between it and the wheel-track of the street, was a grass-plot, much overgrown with burdock, pig-weed, apple-pern, and such unsightly vegetation” (Hawthorne 45). Through conveying the horrific piece of land which displays a dull and dark surrounding, Hawthorne further conveys the somber tone. Once again, by using tone through figurative language, Hawthorne adds to the reader 's comprehension of Puritan values. The gossiping ladies talk about punishing Hester, yet at the same time they do not look after their own town, showing a hypocritical trait on behalf of the Puritans. In short, the somber tone conveyed through imagery helps readers depict the hypocrites which surround
To begin, throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter, the use of symbolism flourishes; …show more content…
Here, the ladies of the town gossip about Hester, one going as far as to say the scarlet letter presented too little of a punishment; execution seemed more fitting. These ladies stood in front of an “ugly edifice, and between it and the wheel-track of the street, was a grass-plot, much overgrown with burdock, pig-weed, apple-pern, and such unsightly vegetation” (Hawthorne 45). Through conveying the horrific piece of land which displays a dull and dark surrounding, Hawthorne further conveys the somber tone. Once again, by using tone through figurative language, Hawthorne adds to the reader 's comprehension of Puritan values. The gossiping ladies talk about punishing Hester, yet at the same time they do not look after their own town, showing a hypocritical trait on behalf of the Puritans. In short, the somber tone conveyed through imagery helps readers depict the hypocrites which surround