Symbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nicholas Markle Mrs. Voshell Honors English 10 6 January 2017 Symbolism in the Scarlet Letter In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book, The Scarlet Letter, symbolism is used to give the reader an in-depth understanding into the events that take place in the story. There are several symbols that Hawthorne uses to give meaning to the people, places, and things throughout the story. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne’s husband disappears and is thought to be dead. She has a child with Dimmesdale, Hester’s minister, and the baby’s name is Pearl. The identity of the father is not revealed until later in the story. During Hester’s public shaming for committing adultery, she sees her husband, Chillingworth, in the crowd. Once Hester’s husband finds out†¦show more content†¦She is forced to wear the letter as a sentence for adultery. In the book, it is widely known among the townspeople as a unholy symbol and shun all who are affiliated with it.. The scarlet letter has appeared multiple times in the story in more ways than just appearing on Hester. It appeared in the sky when the comet flew by and it was carved onto Hester and Dimmesdale’s tombstones. To Hester, it was a reminder of her sin, and a punishment that she thought she deserved. To the townspeople, it was a symbol of sin and of how feeble the woman’s mind was. To Dimmesdale, it is a mark of unholy sin and a stain on his mind and spirit. Every time he sees the scarlet letter, he is reminded of his sin. To the reader, it was a symbol of the passion between Hester and Dimmesdale. The next symbol used in the story is Pearl. Pearl is the daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale. She is described as an imaginative child and thought to be the offspring of a demon due to her sudden outbursts of rages and her loud screams, and because of this, she terrified the people. She was always dressed in extravagant outfits, while Hester dressed in plain and dull outfits, with the only decoration was the infamous scarlet lett er. In the context of the book, â€Å"Pearl was the outcome of a sin, of adultery, and was seen as impure.† To Hester, Pearl is a constant reminder of her sin and her adultery. To the townspeople, sheShow MoreRelatedSymbolism In The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1045 Words   |  5 Pages Symbolism is the use of symbols in a book to represent ideas or qualities. Symbolism is used many times throughout The Scarlet Letter, whether it be through a person, an object, or a place. Hester Prynne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth are some of the more important people that are used as symbols by Nathaniel Hawthorne throughout the book. The Scarlet Letter is set in the Puritan time where Hester is the woman who committed adultery, Arthur is the man who committed adulteryRead MoreSymbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne923 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism is a common approach used in writing, but it is not to be taken for its exact connota tion. In literature, the symbol can be a person, item, circumstance, or action that has a more profound significance in the writing. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne there are four main symbols that the reader would notice. The symbols include, the colors red and black, the meteor, Pearl, and the scarlet letter itself. Hawthorne uses symbolism in the novel to communicate his message. In thisRead MoreSymbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1513 Words   |  7 Pagessomething that is used to represent or stand for something else. Nathaniel Hawthorne was notorious for having used symbolism to portray both spiritual and moral lessons in his works. In fact, what makes some of his stories so great was the symbolism that he used to set the tone or represent key components in the plot. Many of Hawthorne’s works were centered in the Puritan society and dealt with a human’s inclination to sin. Hawthorne realized the many flaws in humans and saw how fake people couldRead MoreSymbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1956 Words   |  8 Pagesgenerations. For example, the Model T is not produced anymore, but is the grandfather of almost every car made today, affecting jobs, businesses, people, and the world. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is taught today because it was one of the first important American written novels th at contained obvious symbolism. Since symbolism is used in everything of literary merit, it is important to see where it started. In the same way, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has lastedRead MoreSymbolism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter 1159 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism in the Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne is known to have a lot of symbolism. Symbolism is a way to convey ideas and give a book a deeper meaning to readers. While there are many symbols in the Scarlet Letter, there are a few that stand out more than others. Pearl, Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth are all main characters that have symbols. Hawthorne symbols are used to help readers relate to the story. In order to really comprehend the book the readerRead MoreSymbolism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter882 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter was a novel written in the 1850 s by a man named Nathaniel Hawthorne. Throughout the Scarlet Letter he uses scads of literary devices. The literary devices are there to give the novel more depth. The main device he uses in the novel is symbolism. Hawthorne uses the symbolism to make an object have more than one meaning. Three of the elements he uses as symbols are the scarlet letter, Pearl, and the forest. These symbols are seen differently by theRead MoreThe Symbolism Of Sin In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1086 Words   |  5 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne,   a anti-transcendentalists, born during the early 1800’s, born in Salem, made a book called The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter was a book about Puritans in New England, during the 1600’s in a small Puritan town. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism of The Scarlet Letter, Pearl and Burrs to contribute to the overall theme of sin.   Ã‚  Ã‚   To begin, Hawthorne uses The Scarlet Letter to symbolize sin. Hester is the main character in the story, sheRead MoreSymbolism By Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1140 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism; the use of symbols to represent something abstract by something concrete. It can be powerful in a novel when used correctly. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a prime example of Symbolism being used creatively in a work.This is what Hyatt H. Waggoner has to say about the Hawthornes creativity.† But in between the surface and the depths movement is constant and complex, and it is in this middle that the principal value of the work lies.†(Waggoner 73)What Waggoner is talking aboutRead MoreSymbolism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter 1122 Words   |  5 Pagesdraft Topic: Symbolism of the Scarlet letter â€Å"A† In The Scarlet letter the author Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the use of symbolism in the book, especially the scarlet letter â€Å"A.† Symbolism is defined as a figure of speech used for an object, or a word to represent something else in literature. The Scarlet letter â€Å"A† had a change of meaning throughout the novel. In the inception of the book it is known as a symbol of Adultery. As the book continues the scarlet letter is looked at differentlyRead MoreSymbolism In The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne825 Words   |  4 PagesThe Puritan era in New England was inundated with an atmosphere of righteousness and judgment. This culture spurned those who strayed from its religious codes. In his novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses multiple symbols to bring a deeper meaning to the society, his characters, and to adultery. One of the motifs used comes as the character Pearl, the daughter of the two adulterers. Pearl has multiple descriptions ; physically, she is â€Å"a lovely and immortal flower,† yet also â€Å"an airy Symbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne Symbolism is a common approach used in writing, but it is not to be taken for its exact connotation. In literature, the symbol can be a person, item, circumstance, or action that has a more profound significance in the writing. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne there are four main symbols that the reader would notice. The symbols include, the colors red and black, the meteor, Pearl, and the scarlet letter itself. Hawthorne uses symbolism in the novel to communicate his message. In this Puritan society a group of men and women gather around a door that is heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes (Hawthorne 51). Hawthorn describes the building as the â€Å"black flower of civilized society (52). This building just so happens to be a prison, which is a vessel that holds people who have committed crime. In the novel, a crime would also be consider sin. Without sin prisons would not be created, a prison needs sin, like a flower needs water. Before a person en ters the prison one notices a wild rose bush, which is red, and also the opposite of a â€Å"black flower†(Hawthorne 52). Hawthorne gives the reader a flower â€Å"we could hardly do otherwise than pluck one of its flowers, and present it to the reader† (Hawthorne 52), as a symbol of the moral in the novel,â€Å"to symbolize some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow† (Hawthorne 52). The main moral in the novel is people mustShow MoreRelatedSymbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1464 Words   |  6 PagesNicholas Markle Mrs. Voshell Honors English 10 6 January 2017 Symbolism in the Scarlet Letter In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book, The Scarlet Letter, symbolism is used to give the reader an in-depth understanding into the events that take place in the story. There are several symbols that Hawthorne uses to give meaning to the people, places, and things throughout the story. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne’s husband disappears and is thought to be dead. She has a child with Dimmesdale, Hester’sRead MoreSymbolism In The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1045 Words   |  5 Pages Symbolism is the use of symbols in a book to represent ideas or qualities. Symbolism is used many times throughout The Scarlet Letter, whether it be through a person, an object, or a place. Hester Prynne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth are some of the more important people that are used as symbols by Nathaniel Hawthorne throughout the book. The Scarlet Letter is set in the Puritan time where Hester is the woman who committed adultery, Arthur is the man who committed adulteryRead MoreSymbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1513 Words   |  7 Pagessomething that is used to represent or stand for something else. Nathaniel Hawthorne was notorious for having used symbolism to portray both spiritual and moral lessons in his works. In fact, what makes some of his stories so great was the symbolism that he used to set the tone or represent key components in the plot. Many of Hawthorne’s works were centered in the Puritan society and dealt with a human’s inclination to sin. Hawthorne realized the many flaws in humans and saw how fake people couldRead MoreSymbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1956 Words   |  8 Pagesgenerations. For example, the Model T is not produced anymore, but is the grandfather of almost every car made today, affecting jobs, businesses, people, and the world. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is taught today because it was one of the first important Americ an written novels that contained obvious symbolism. Since symbolism is used in everything of literary merit, it is important to see where it started. In the same way, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has lastedRead MoreSymbolism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter 1159 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism in the Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne is known to have a lot of symbolism. Symbolism is a way to convey ideas and give a book a deeper meaning to readers. While there are many symbols in the Scarlet Letter, there are a few that stand out more than others. Pearl, Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth are all main characters that have symbols. Hawthorne symbols are used to help readers relate to the story. In order to really comprehend the book the readerRead MoreSymbolism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter882 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter was a novel written in the 1850 s by a man named Nathaniel Hawthorne. Throughout the Scarlet Letter he uses scads of literary devices. The literary devices are there to give the novel more depth. The main device he uses in the novel is symbolism. Hawthorne uses the symbolism to make an object have more than one meaning. Three of the elements he uses as symbols are the scarlet letter, Pearl, and the forest. These symbols are seen differently by theRead MoreThe Symbolism Of Sin In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1086 Words   |  5 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne,   a anti-transcendentalists, born during the early 1800’s, born in Salem, made a book called The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter was a book about Puritans in New England, during the 1600’s in a small Puritan town. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism of The Scarlet Letter, Pearl and Burrs to contribute to the overall theme of sin.   Ã‚  Ã‚   To begin, Hawthorne uses The Scarlet Letter to symbolize sin. Hester is the main character in the story, sheRead MoreSymbolism By Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1140 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism; the use of symbols to represent something abstract by something concrete. It can be powerful in a novel when used correctly. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a prime example of Symbolism being used creatively in a work.This is what Hyatt H. Waggoner has to say about the Hawthornes creativity.† But in between the surface and the depths movement is constant and complex, and it is in this middle that the principal value of the work lies.†(Waggoner 73)What Waggoner is talking aboutRead MoreSymbolism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter 1122 Words   |  5 Pagesdraft Topic: Symbolism of the Scarlet letter â€Å"A† In The Scarlet letter the author Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the use of symbolism in the book, especially the scarlet letter â€Å"A.† Symbolism is defined as a figure of speech used for an object, or a word to represent something else in literature. The Scarlet letter â€Å"A† had a change of meaning throughout the novel. In the inception of the book it is known as a symbol of Adultery. As the book continues the scarlet letter is looked at differentlyRead MoreSymbolism In The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne825 Words   |  4 PagesThe Puritan era in New England was inundated with an atmosphere of righteousness and judgment. This culture spurned those who strayed from its religious codes. In his novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses multiple symbols to bring a deeper meaning to the society, his characters, and to adultery. One of the motifs used comes as the character Pearl, the daughter of the two adulterers. Pearl has multiple descriptions ; physically, she is â€Å"a lovely and immortal flower,† yet also â€Å"an airy Symbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne A symbol is something that is used to represent or stand for something else. Nathaniel Hawthorne was notorious for having used symbolism to portray both spiritual and moral lessons in his works. In fact, what makes some of his stories so great was the symbolism that he used to set the tone or represent key components in the plot. Many of Hawthorne’s works were centered in the Puritan society and dealt with a human’s inclination to sin. Hawthorne realized the many flaws in humans and saw how fake people could be, so he was able to write truthfully about people and shed a terribly unflattering light on them. The most obvious symbol used in The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne’s magnum opus, was the scarlet â€Å"A† that Hester Prynne bore on her chest as a reminder of the sin she committed. At the start of the story the â€Å"A† stood for an adulterer and she was obligated to wear it so every one knew what she had done. Hester had a huge decision to make, sh e could have either lived in the shadow of that letter or she could have chosen not to let it define who she was and give the â€Å"A† a new meaning. Hester made the right decision and chose not to be enslaved by her past. She turned the â€Å"A† from a symbol of her mistake and the shame that had been placed upon her, to be positive and standing for â€Å"Able.† Nobody knew who the father of Hester’s child Pearl was for a while. The readers and Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s husband, find out that the man she committed adultery with was ReverendShow MoreRelatedSymbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1464 Words   |  6 PagesNicholas Markle Mrs. Voshell Honors English 10 6 January 2017 Symbolism in the Scarlet Letter In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book, The Scarlet Letter, symbolism is used to give the reader an in-depth understanding into the events that take place in the story. There are several symbols that Hawthorne uses to give meaning to the people, places, and things throughout the story. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne’s husband disappears and is thought to be dead. She has a child with Dimmesdale, Hester’sRead MoreSymbolism In The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1045 Words   |  5 Pages Symbolism is the use of symbols in a book to represent ideas or qualities. Symbolism is used many times throughout The Scarlet Letter, whether it be through a person, an object, or a place. Hester Prynne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth are some of the more important people that are used as symbols by Nathaniel Hawthorne throughout the book. The Scarlet Letter is set in the Puritan time where Hester is the woman who committed adultery, Arthur is the man who committed adulteryRead MoreSymbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne923 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism is a common approach used in writing, but it is not to be taken for its exact connotation. In literature, the symbol can be a person, item, circumstance, or action that has a more profound significance in the writing. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne there are four main symbols that the reader would notice. The symbols include, the colors red and black, the meteor, Pearl, and the scarlet letter itself. Hawthorne uses symbolism in the novel to communicate his message. In thisRead MoreSymbolism Of The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1956 Words   |  8 Pagesgenerations. For example, the Model T is not produced anymore, but is the grandfather of almost every car made today, affecting jobs, businesses, people, and the world. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is taught today because it was one of the first important American written novels that contained obvious symbolism. Since symbolism is used in everything of literary merit, it is important to see where it started. In the same way, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has lastedRead MoreSymbolism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter 1159 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism in the Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne is known to have a lot of symbolism. Symbolism is a way to convey ideas and give a book a deeper meaning to readers. While there are many symbols in the Scarlet Letter, there are a few that stand out more than others. Pearl, Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth are all main characters that have symbols. Hawthorne symbols are used to help readers relate to the story. In order to really comprehend the book the readerRead MoreSymbolism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter882 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter was a novel written in the 1850 s by a man named Nathaniel Hawthorne. Throughout the Scarlet Letter he uses scads of literary devices. The literary devices are there to give the novel more depth. The main device he uses in the novel is symbolism. Hawthorne uses the symbolism to make an object have more than one meaning. Three of the elements he uses as symbols are the scarlet letter, Pearl, and the forest. These symbols are seen differently by theRead MoreThe Symbolism Of Sin In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1086 Words   |  5 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne,   a anti-transcendentalists, born during the early 1800’s, born in Salem, made a book called The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter was a book about Puritans in New England, during the 1600’s in a small Puritan town. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism of The Scarlet Letter, Pearl and Burrs to contribute to the overall theme of sin.   Ã‚  Ã‚   To begin, Hawthorne uses The Scarlet Letter to symbolize sin. Hester is the main character in the story, sheRead MoreSymbolism By Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1140 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism; the use of symbols to represent something abstract by something concrete. It can be powerful in a novel when used correctly. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a prime example of Symbolism being used creatively in a work.This is what Hyatt H. Waggoner has to say about the Hawthornes creativity.† But in between the surface and the depths movement is constant and complex, and it is in this middle that the principal value of the work lies.†(Waggoner 73)What Waggoner is talking aboutRead MoreSymbolism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter 1122 Words   |  5 Pagesdraft Topic: Symbolism of the Scarlet letter â€Å"A† In The Scarlet letter the author Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the use of symbolism in the book, especially the scarlet letter â€Å"A.† Symbolism is defined as a figure of speech used for an object, or a word to represent something else in literature. The Scarlet letter â€Å"A† had a change of meaning throughout the novel. In the inception of the book it is known as a symbol of Adultery. As the book continues the scarlet letter is looked at differentlyRead MoreSymbolism In The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne825 Words   |  4 PagesThe Puritan era in New England was inundated with an atmosphere of righteousness and judgment. This culture spurned those who strayed from its religious codes. In his novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses multiple symbols to bring a deeper meaning to the society, his characters, and to adultery. One of the motifs used comes as the character Pearl, the daughter of the two adulterers. Pearl has multiple descriptions ; physically, she is â€Å"a lovely and immortal flower,† yet also â€Å"an airy