Symbols in The Scarlet Letter Essay examples -- essays research papers

Symbols in The Scarlet LetterIn The Scarlet Letter, symbols appear everywhere. Hawthorne uses several different cover objects to represent something of deeper meaning. Among these symbols is the ruddy garner A itself. It is made of red cloth and beautifully embroidered. It is a literal symbol of the sin of adultery. The letter A appears in several places and several forms. It is the letter that appears on Hesters heart that she is condemned to wear for the remainder of her life. At Governor Bellinghams mansion it is magnified in the breastplate. It seems as though she is concealed behind it. On the night that Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl, a huge letter A appears in the sky. Later, while in the forest, Pearl arranges a letter a on her heart that is made of eel grass. One of the well-nigh dramatic of the As that appear in the book is the A that appears on Dimmesdales chest. Not only does the A symbolize adultery, but it also has several other meanings to the different characters as well. To the community, it is simply a mark of punishment. To Hester, it is a mark of embarrassment and humiliation. To Dimmesdale, the scarlet letter is a reminder of his own guilt. To Pearl, the mark is a mysterious curiosity. To Chillingworth, the A is his chance to get revenge on Dimmesdale. Later, the letter symbolizes Able when Hester wins some see from the townspeople.The scarlet letter is meant to be a symbol of shame, but instead it becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester. The letters meaning shifts as time passes. in the first place intended to mark Hester as an adulterer, the A eventually comes to stand for Able. Finally, it becomes indeterminate the Native Americans who come to watch the Election Day pageant think it attach her as a person of importance and status. Like Pearl, the letter functions as a physical reminder of Hesters affair with Dimmesdale. But, compared with a human child, the letter seems insignificant, and then he lps to point out the ultimate meaninglessness of the communitys system of judgment and punishment. The child has been sent from God, or at least from nature, but the letter is merely a human contrivance. Additionally, the instability of the letters apparent meaning calls into question societys ability to use symbols for ideological reinforcement. More often than not, a symbol becomes... ... opposed to the strict prude community and laws. However, it is also a place where the witches come and sign their souls to the devil. Therefore, the forest can also symbolize darkness and evilForestOne of the most integral parts of the book, when Hester Prynne speaks to the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale about their predicament, takes place in the forest. When reading the novel, it becomes increasingly apparent that there is a contrast between the forest and the town, as settings. The forest symbolizes a dark and mysterious place where impulses and urges reign and also where the goings-on are to be kep t a secret. The forest is described as dismal, grungy and full of shadows with an imposing, cloudy sky that is filled with threatening storms. When Dimmesdale and Hester first see each other, Hawthorne describes them as being in the world beyond the grave, of two hard drink who had intimately connected in their former life, but now stood coldly shuddering, in mutual dead. Also in the forest, Hester undid the clasp that fastened the scarlet letter, and, taking it from her bosom, threw it to a distance among the withered leaves....and took off the formal cap that confined her hair.