Symbols and Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the theme revolves or so a sin that has been committed. It takes places in the seventeenth century in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Hester Prynne, who had an affair with the local Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, commits the sin. Roger Chillingworth is Hesters husband while the affair is victorious place. Because of the affair, Hester and Arthur have a daughter named Pearl. The sin that Hester commits is adultery. Hawthorne uses a variety of symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter, and he symbolizes the scarlet letter A in several ways. In the puritan community, A is a sign of punishment, and the red A is worn on the chest of the offenders clothing. The A may mean adultery, Angel and Able. Hester, after years of helping, serving and sympathizing with the t avowspeople, was viewed by the Puritans to mean Able rather than adulteress A meant Able so strong was Hester Prynne, with a womans strength (186). For ex ample, when Hester has won some reckon from the Puritans, Such helpfulness was found in her, -so much... that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification (186). To the Puritans the letter A as well as symbolizes an Angel. A great red letter in the sky, the letter A... showed up at regulator Winthrops death in the sky (182). For, as our good Governor Winthrop was made an angel this past night... (182). The meaning of the A is also different to each of the characters. To Hester it is a constant reminder of humiliation and of the sin that she committed. Dimmesdale believes that the A reminds him of his own guilt, and there is no way that he can forgive himself. The A to Pearl, a young girl, is a bright and mysterious curiosity. Hester Prynne is an English woman who is punish by having to wear the embroidered scarlet letter A on the breasts of her clothing receives public humiliation by standing in front of the townspeople of Boston. The A that Hester wears is ... in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread... (58). Hester Prynne, through the eyes of many Puritans, is an extreme sinner she has gone against the Puritan ways, committing adultery. For this harsh sin, she must wear a symbol of shame for the rest of her life.