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
. . .
hysical reminder of Hester's affair with Dimmesdale. This statement holds true for many people today as well as it did in the past, especially when it comes to natural occurrences. The puritans commonly looked to symbols to confirm divine sentiments. Yet "Angel" is an awkward reading of the symbol. Yet, eve as a reminder of Hester's "sin," Pearl is more than a mere punishment to her mother; she is also a blessing. It is only after Dimmesdale is revealed to be Pearl's father that Pearl can become fully "human. "Nothing was more common, in those days than to interpret all natural phenomena as a supernatural source. "
The eye of the beholder sees what the beholder wishes to see. The rest of the community however interprets the meteor differently. As Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl, a meteor traces out an "A" in the night sky. "She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness…" (208) Throughout the book Hester takes responsibility for her actions and transforms the scarlet letter's meaning to "able. " (160) The community thinks the meteor stands for "Angel" and marks the Governor Winthrop's entry to heaven.
Approximate Word count =
496
Approximate Pages =
2 (250 words per page double spaced)
Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.
| CREDIT CARD |
ONLINE CHECK |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JOIN BY PHONE
|
|
|
