Color Symbolism in the Scarlet Letter
Symbolism, frequently used in literature, can appear in many forms. The use of colors is one such example, in which the color worn or depicted by a character can determine the character's attributes. Black, for example, may represent satanic evil whereas white may symbolize purity. Hawthorne takes advantage of using colors to describe his characters in The Scarlet Letter. The use of colors represented in Chillingworth's darkness, Hester's dullness, and Pearl's vividness show that these characters stand for a broader meaning. The color black represents Chillingworth, an evil man who often is compared to the devil. Even when the character is first introduced in the novel, Hawthorne states, "his face darkened with some powerfu
In Hawthorne's words, Pearl's beauty has "so much strength of coloring"; also known as "a beauty that shone with deep and vivid tints". Hester, from being an outcast for so long, has hidden away her beauty and liveliness. To produce a dramatic effect, Hawthorne also uses the color red on the scarlet letter to make it stand out, which in a way keeps Hester from completely diminishing. Furthermore, Hester begins to see "a glare of red light out of his eyes", making him appear like the devil. Similarly, the passage, "overhead was a gray expanse of cloud", is an example of Hester's dreariness, for her surroundings are also described as gray. The green "A" can symbolize Pearl's liveliness, for green is the color of life. Pearl, on the other hand, is described with vivid colors, showing her wild passion. Showing how the color black symbolizes his satanic qualities, Pearl exclaims, "Come away, mother! Come away, or yonder old Black Man [or devil] will catch you! He hath got hold of the minister already. l emotion", which explains that Chillingworth's darkness is a result of his iniquity. Hawthorne quotes, "On this public holiday, as on all other occasions, for seven years past, Hester was clad in a garment of coarse gray cloth. This colorful beauty is expressed through Pearl's undying passion, for she is often called an "elf" or "fairy". Consequently, the colors Hawthorne uses help to give meaning to characters in a symbolic way. For example, black represents Chillingworth's evilness, dull colors like gray represent Hester's lifelessness, and vivid colors represent Pearl's dynamic character. Hawthorne uses colors in The Scarlet Letter to symbolize a deeper meaning in a character's personality.
Common topics in this essay:
Scarlet Letter,
Hester Hester,
Hester Pearl,
,
Furthermore Hester,
scarlet letter,
vivid colors,
black represents,
chillingworth's darkness,
color black,
|
Acceptance Essays
