Symbolism and The Scarlet Letter

A detailed Summary of Symbolism and The Scarlet Letter

Symbolism, simply defined, is when one thing, a person or an object for example, is used in place of another, sometimes used as foreshadowing. Hawthorne was a master of symbolism, throughout his books, strong symbolism and vivid imagery are used to take the readers mind through a maze of thought provoking, heart wrenching realism, in which the reader actually feels part of. Many examples of symbolism can be found throughout Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.

One of the earliest examples of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter can be found at the end of Chapter One. Hawthorne ends the chapter with the image of a rosebush and suggests that one of its blooms can "symbolize some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow." It is thought that the rosebush was a last beautiful sight of the damned.

Another prime example of symbolism can be found in the beginning of chapter two. Hester emerges from the prison door and as she is approaching the scaffold Hawthorne says that she is displaying a "desperate recklessness of mood." It is thought to symbolize her resistance to the Puritan church because of her grave sin of adultery.

f symbolism in this book is the Scarlet Letter 'A' found on Hester's chest. Hawthorne offers a very strong description of this scarlet letter saying that "in fine red cloth surrounded with elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter 'A'." This is thought to symbolize the passion of Hester and the crime that she committed in that Hester was a very passionate woman compared to the rest of the women in the town. And the fact that the letter was "surrounded with elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread" offers that she wasn't at all ashamed of the crime, possibly because it was committed in a moment of strong passion, and that no shame should be put upon such a moment.

Another form of symbolism is shown with the name of Hester's husband, or at least her husband before the Voyage to the New World. His name is Roger Chillingworth. The root word Chilling offers a hint that the man might be one for cold-blooded revenge, which proves to be foreshadowing as the story unfolds. Also, Hester even asks Chillingworth, "Art thou like the Black Man that haunts the forest round about us? Hast thou enticed me into a bold that will prove the ruin of my soul?" This bold question associates Chilli

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Approximate Word count = 841
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Symbolism and The Scarlet Letter

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