Scarlet Letter
As a writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne is best known for his use of symbolism. The Scarlet Letter is considered by many to be the world's first truly symbolic novel. A symbol is a person, place, object, or activity that stands for something outside itself, and literary symbols take on their meaning within the context of literature. Of the many symbols in the book the most symbolic ones include the scarlet letter, the meteor, and Hester's daughter, Pearl. (76)When the scarlet letter is mentioned or seen by others some of the things that come to mind are shame, despair and solitude, yet its meaning shifts as times passes to become a powerful symbol of identity to Hester. The A's original meaning stands for adulterer and functions as a p
Yet, eve as a reminder of Hester's "sin," Pearl is more than a mere punishment to her mother; she is also a blessing. hysical reminder of Hester's affair with Dimmesdale. " (167) Until then, she functions in a symbolic capacity as the reminder of an unsolved mystery. "She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness. "Nothing was more common, in those days than to interpret all natural phenomena as a supernatural source. " (208) Throughout the book Hester takes responsibility for her actions and transforms the scarlet letter's meaning to "able. " (161) He sees it as a divine sign from heaven telling him that god will not forgive him for his sin until he admits to it. The puritans commonly looked to symbols to confirm divine sentiments. It is only after Dimmesdale is revealed to be Pearl's father that Pearl can become fully "human. Thus, Pearl's existence gives her mother reason to live bolstering her spirits when she is tempted to give up. As Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl, a meteor traces out an "A" in the night sky.
Common topics in this essay:
Governor Winthrop's,
Hester A's,
Scarlet Letter,
Hester Pearl,
scarlet letter,
Nathaniel Hawthorne,
reminder hester's,
novel symbol,
,
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