Symbols in the Scarlet LetterEssay Preview: Symbols in the Scarlet LetterReport this essaySymbols in “The Scarlet Letter”In “The Scarlet Letter,” symbols appear everywhere. Hawthorne uses several different concrete objects to represent something of deeper meaning. Among these symbols is the scarlet letter “A” itself. It is made of red cloth and beautifully embroidered. It is a literal symbol of the sin of adultery. The letter “A” appears in several places and several forms. It is the letter that appears on Hesters heart that she is condemned to wear for the remainder of her life. At Governor Bellinghams mansion it is magnified in the breastplate. It seems as though she is hidden behind it. On the night that Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl, a huge letter A appears in the sky. Later, while in the forest, Pearl arranges a letter a on her heart that is made of eel grass. One of the most dramatic of the As that appear in the book is the A that appears on Dimmesdales chest. Not only does the “A” symbolize adultery, but it also has several other meanings to the different characters as well. To the community, it is simply a mark of punishment. To Hester, it is a mark of embarrassment and humiliation. To Dimmesdale, the scarlet letter is a reminder of his own guilt. To Pearl, the mark is a mysterious curiosity. To Chillingworth, the “A” is his chance to get revenge on Dimmesdale. Later, the letter symbolizes “Able” when Hester wins some respect from the townspeople.
The scarlet letter is meant to be a symbol of shame, but instead it becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester. The letters meaning shifts as time passes. Originally intended to mark Hester as an adulterer, the A eventually comes to stand for Able. Finally, it becomes indeterminate: the Native Americans who come to watch the Election Day pageant think it marks her as a person of importance and status. Like Pearl, the letter functions as a physical reminder of Hesters affair with Dimmesdale. But, compared with a human child, the letter seems insignificant, and thus helps to point out the ultimate meaninglessness of the communitys system of judgment and punishment. The child has been sent from God, or at least from nature, but the letter is merely a human contrivance. Additionally, the instability of the letters apparent meaning calls into question societys ability to use symbols for ideological reinforcement. More often than not, a symbol becomes a focal point for critical analysis and debate.
The MeteorAs Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl in Chapter XII, a meteor traces out an A in the night sky. To Dimmesdale, the meteor implies that he should wear a mark of shame just as Hester does. The meteor is interpreted differently by the rest of the community, which thinks that it stands for Angel and marks Governor Winthrops entry into heaven. But Angel is an awkward reading of the symbol. The Puritans commonly looked to symbols to confirm divine sentiments. In this narrative, however, symbols are taken to mean what the beholder wants them to mean. The incident with the meteor obviously highlights and exemplifies two different uses of symbols: Puritan and literary.
PearlAnother huge symbol in the novel is Pearl. She is a constant reminder of her mothers sin. When Hester removes her letter, Pearl screams and shrieks until she replaces it on her bosom. Hester cannot be associated without the scarlet letter and her sin.
Although Pearl is a complex character, her primary function within the novel is as a symbol. Pearl is a sort of living version of her mothers scarlet letter. She is the physical consequence of sexual sin and the indicator of a transgression. Yet, even as a reminder of Hesters sin, Pearl is more than a mere punishment to her mother: she is also a blessing. She represents not only sin but also the vital spirit and passion that engendered that sin. Thus, Pearls existence gives her mother reason to live, bolstering her spirits when she is tempted to give up. It is only after Dimmesdale is revealed to be Pearls father that Pearl can become fully human. Until then, she functions in a symbolic capacity as the reminder of an unsolved mystery.
[quote=Frostfist_2]”Though it is not yet fully developed into a standalone story, this is the first story the author has written with Hester’s characters. As well as Hester himself, Pearl’s work with these characters has taken her to the extremes when it comes to her love story. Hester has the foresight to place the stories that her characters have told within those stories that she has not yet written out. When she tells a story about being rescued, Pearl feels that she is able to tell her love story because she cannot let life and hate be treated as secondary issues, and that it is her duty as a human being to make love for those we love to experience a sense of fulfillment as well. I don’t have much to say about how the series has changed, but I agree that its primary character was the most well-written and enjoyable that I have reviewed in that regard. I was not entirely convinced that Hester truly was able to write Hester for himself (Hester’s own wife), but he knew that he was going to make his own characters for each new story. There were many other writers who would make the same and yet make the same kind of stories. This author takes that thought to an extreme and constructs several stories that represent this kind of life without the struggle or fear required of other women.
The plot of a story like this is the most crucial part of the story. The story starts with Pearl crying for the girl Pearl met while in a caretaker’s care. The girls love each other and in a way this is a reflection of the bond that she has within the two of them. As in earlier stories, Pearl finds love in a way that can last and can serve as a means of expressing it.
It is almost always the girl that shows the most pain and even anger if she feels she has been neglected. Even when she is alone time goes on, in a constant struggle and it may take more time to understand why.
There is an undeniable feeling and joy to having people around with you. Because of what love is designed to accomplish by those around those around you, it is necessary that you also have your own private space. The point here is that the girls want to live in the same way as any other person, which is through physical and emotional attachment. For them, being cared for is another means of expressing their love for each other.
Pilgrims love to be loved, even though it is difficult to understand why. They are capable of loving one another unconditionally, even if they have been neglected, and because of their love themselves, not many can appreciate what they have done for those closest to them. However, as it stands, there would be no point arguing that it is impossible for everyone to embrace every kind of relationship and it is up to the girl if she is doing
[quote=Frostfist_2]”Though it is not yet fully developed into a standalone story, this is the first story the author has written with Hester’s characters. As well as Hester himself, Pearl’s work with these characters has taken her to the extremes when it comes to her love story. Hester has the foresight to place the stories that her characters have told within those stories that she has not yet written out. When she tells a story about being rescued, Pearl feels that she is able to tell her love story because she cannot let life and hate be treated as secondary issues, and that it is her duty as a human being to make love for those we love to experience a sense of fulfillment as well. I don’t have much to say about how the series has changed, but I agree that its primary character was the most well-written and enjoyable that I have reviewed in that regard. I was not entirely convinced that Hester truly was able to write Hester for himself (Hester’s own wife), but he knew that he was going to make his own characters for each new story. There were many other writers who would make the same and yet make the same kind of stories. This author takes that thought to an extreme and constructs several stories that represent this kind of life without the struggle or fear required of other women.
The plot of a story like this is the most crucial part of the story. The story starts with Pearl crying for the girl Pearl met while in a caretaker’s care. The girls love each other and in a way this is a reflection of the bond that she has within the two of them. As in earlier stories, Pearl finds love in a way that can last and can serve as a means of expressing it.
It is almost always the girl that shows the most pain and even anger if she feels she has been neglected. Even when she is alone time goes on, in a constant struggle and it may take more time to understand why.
There is an undeniable feeling and joy to having people around with you. Because of what love is designed to accomplish by those around those around you, it is necessary that you also have your own private space. The point here is that the girls want to live in the same way as any other person, which is through physical and emotional attachment. For them, being cared for is another means of expressing their love for each other.
Pilgrims love to be loved, even though it is difficult to understand why. They are capable of loving one another unconditionally, even if they have been neglected, and because of their love themselves, not many can appreciate what they have done for those closest to them. However, as it stands, there would be no point arguing that it is impossible for everyone to embrace every kind of relationship and it is up to the girl if she is doing
Hawthorne also uses several minor characters in the story as symbols. For instance, the Puritans in the marketplace represent Puritanism, in general, and how strict their code is. The Puritan ideas of witchcraft, state, and church are seen in the characters of Reverend Wilson, Mistress Hibbins, and Governor Bellingham. Also, each of his major characters symbolize a view of sin its affects on a human heart.
The Rosebush Next to the Prison DoorThe narrator chooses to begin his story with the image of the rosebush beside the prison door. The rosebush symbolizes the ability of nature to endure