Symbolism In the Scarlet Letter
By definition, a symbol is "something concrete that represents or suggests another thing that cannot in itself be pictured." Nathaniel Hawthorne uses many people as symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter. The characters of Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Pearl, and Roger Chillingworth all represent sin. However, these four symbolize different aspects of sin. Through the character of Hester Prynne, Hawthorne shows how sin can make a person stronger. When Hester commits adultery, the Puritan punishment forces her to wear a scarlet letter so the whole community knows of her wrongdoing. Hester has enough courage to wear the letter in public, even though she has to live with harassing comments and peculiar glances from the townspeople. By dealing with these unnecessary actions, Hester becomes a stronger person who is better able to handle pain and defend herself. Besides the fact that she wears her "A" proudly, Hester is able to get over her sorrow and get on with her life. She decides not to stay home everyday and suffer grief; instead, she chooses to help others. Many people begin to respect her again because of her kindness and assistance. As Hawthorne states
Throughout the novel, Chillingworth commits several acts of misconduct. He says that Pearl, because of Hester, is "in the dark as to her soul, its present depravity, and future destiny. Through the character of Arthur Dimmesdale, the author reveals that keeping sin hidden can be harmful. Pearl is the daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, and she serves as a constant mental and physical reminder to Hester of her sin. He often attempts to punish himself by fasting and holding all night vigils. However, his sin continues to bother him until his death, when the people who consider him holy finally acknowledge his transgression. They said that it meant "Able"; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength. Chillingworth is a "leech," one who sucks all the life out of his victim, Dimmesdale. Children ridicule Pearl, and others keep a careful watch on her. He dies because, as Hawthorne states, "there was no more Devil's work on earth for him to do. " Hester truly is a symbol of strength, and because of her strength she is able to get on with her life and not suffer with her grief. His lack of sensitivity is shown in choosing such a young woman as his bride, his lack of chivalry is shown when he sends his wife alone to Boston, his lack of kindness is shown when he does not contact his wife for two years, and his lack of sympathy is shown when he chooses to hide his identity and change his name. Pearl is the living scarlet letter, and she will not let her mother forget about her sin. Pearl serves as a reminder of the scarlet letter to her mother, and Roger Chillingworth as an example of how many smaller transgressions can add up to be greater than a single sin. The fact that Dimmesdale conceals his sin torments him, and it is evident all the way through the novel that his secret sin is constantly dragging him down.
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