Mirrors, water, glass are all entities that can show the effect of reflection. Reflection is not just the glare or the throwing back by body or light. It can also show the ways of a current feeling or how you are physically. Reflection in The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a major symbol throughout the novel. It displays how characters are viewed, discovers real identity, and the effects of lives it has continuously during the reading. The symbol reflection is very important and carries many thoughts and meanings during the characters journeys. During the course of the novel, Hawthorne uses mirrors and reflections to symbolize how the main characters view themselves and how other characters see them. Hester is brought to the readers
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In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it (Hawthorne 94). This happens when Pearl and Hester visit Governor’s hall and they see the scarlet letter reflecting on a suit of armor and Hester becomes shocked. The A for the scarlet letter on Hester really tells who she is and whenever she notices it, it only brings up bad thoughts and reminds herself of her sin. "Once this freakish, elvish cast came to the child's eyes while Hester was looking at her own image in them, as mothers are fond of doing; and, suddenly-for woman in solitude, and with troubled hearts, are pestered with unaccountable delusions-she fancied that she beheld, not her own miniature portrait, but another face, in the small black mirror of …show more content…
The symbolism of reflection lets them discover and determine their real selves instead of keep trying to be who they are not. Arthur Dimmesdale finds out that he is a man of sin and leading to a non-truthful life. "He kept vigils, likewise, night after night, sometimes in utter darkness; sometimes with a glimmering lamp; and sometimes, viewing his own face in a looking glass, by the most powerful light which he could throw upon it (Hawthorne 130).” Dimmesdale reflects himself by the looking glass and realizes who he has become. His guilt starts to eat him up due to physical changes and refusal to confess his sin to the society. However, Chillingworth has become evil and does not recognize himself anymore. "Sometimes, a light glimmered out of the physician's eyes, burning blue and ominous, like the reflection of a furnace, or, let us say, like one of those gleams of ghastly fire that darted from Bunyan's awful doorway in the hillside and quivered on the pilgrim's face (Hawthorne 115).” Even though this quote does show actual reflections, it is used to display how others view Chillingworth. It reveals how there is heat and tension building up inside Chillingworth. The reflection of the furnace in his eyes show how people view and see Chillingworth as evil. The heat is used to symbolize hell, where sinners go. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth reveal their selves inside and out and discover their real
In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it (Hawthorne 94). This happens when Pearl and Hester visit Governor’s hall and they see the scarlet letter reflecting on a suit of armor and Hester becomes shocked. The A for the scarlet letter on Hester really tells who she is and whenever she notices it, it only brings up bad thoughts and reminds herself of her sin. "Once this freakish, elvish cast came to the child's eyes while Hester was looking at her own image in them, as mothers are fond of doing; and, suddenly-for woman in solitude, and with troubled hearts, are pestered with unaccountable delusions-she fancied that she beheld, not her own miniature portrait, but another face, in the small black mirror of …show more content…
The symbolism of reflection lets them discover and determine their real selves instead of keep trying to be who they are not. Arthur Dimmesdale finds out that he is a man of sin and leading to a non-truthful life. "He kept vigils, likewise, night after night, sometimes in utter darkness; sometimes with a glimmering lamp; and sometimes, viewing his own face in a looking glass, by the most powerful light which he could throw upon it (Hawthorne 130).” Dimmesdale reflects himself by the looking glass and realizes who he has become. His guilt starts to eat him up due to physical changes and refusal to confess his sin to the society. However, Chillingworth has become evil and does not recognize himself anymore. "Sometimes, a light glimmered out of the physician's eyes, burning blue and ominous, like the reflection of a furnace, or, let us say, like one of those gleams of ghastly fire that darted from Bunyan's awful doorway in the hillside and quivered on the pilgrim's face (Hawthorne 115).” Even though this quote does show actual reflections, it is used to display how others view Chillingworth. It reveals how there is heat and tension building up inside Chillingworth. The reflection of the furnace in his eyes show how people view and see Chillingworth as evil. The heat is used to symbolize hell, where sinners go. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth reveal their selves inside and out and discover their real