Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author of The Scarlet Letter, presents to his readers a novel in which there are obstacles to overcome by the main characters. His array of symbolism throughout the novel makes the story seem related to modren times. In the first chapter, Hawthorne introduces the readers to symbolism beginning with the prisonhouse and the rosebush. The chapter begins introducing the prison door as "rustic" and an "ugly edifice." The old prison door is suppose to represent a threshold that seperates the criminals from the people of the community.-participial Hawthorne makes the readers believe that the door is somehow connected with the burial ground. The prison is symbolic of moral evil which would be sin and the cemetery is a symbol of n
Revrend Dimmsdale convinces the government that Pearl is a living reminder of her sin. With the rosebush being so old, it has been looked upon by everyone. " At the end, Dimmesdale is able to gain the strength and courage to finally confess his sin to the people. Finally, the scaffold is symbolic of redemption and judgment. The rosebush is described as "fragile beauty" and a "sweet moral blossom. Hester is the unfortunate beholder of the "scarlet letterA. The effect of this is a more unified story, when the reader analyses the work and finds that there is comparable symbolism throughout the book. The entire Chapter 3, 'TheRecognition,' illustrates the symbolism of the scaffold. The sixth chapter entitled "Pearl" introduces readers to Hester's daughter Pearl as a rambunctious little girl. " The rosebush may symbolize hope to the unlucky person that is entering the prison house. Hester is sentenced to stand on the scaffold for three hours to stand before God to receive their fair judgment; "she will be a living sermon against sin. " The "A" is suppose to symbolize shame to Hester, but close to the end of the story it becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester. Much of the trouble in interpreting The Scarlet Letter stems from the fact that the story is highly symbolic.
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