Nature, color and light are used as symbols throughout the novel to illustrate several areas of the story (Waggoner 154). The prison door, for example, was described as being composed of "oak and iron" and its coloring "sad" and "gray", symbolizing the rigidity of the Puritan society against sinners (Waggoner 154). The rosebush situated outside of the prison do

The scaffold holds the protagonistic role of being the location of the three most climactic scenes of the novel. Because of the events upheld at the scaffold it comes to symbolize a place of truth and clairvoyance (Matthiessen 295). "There Hester endures her public shaming" (Matthiessen 295-6). Hester suffers her penance upon the scaffold in the opening chapter of the book, revealing the truth of her sins by displaying the elegant letter upon her breast (Matthiessen 296). "Midway through the book, the minister, who has been driven almost crazy by his guile but has lacked the resolution to confess it...is joined by Hester [upon the scaffold], and there they are overseen by Chillingworth" (Matthiessen 296). Yet another truth is revealed to Chillingworth, when here he now realizes the identity of Hester's partner in crime (Matthiessen 296). "At the end, the exhausted and death-stricken Dimmesdale totters to confess his sin at last to the incredulous and only half-comprehending crowd..." (Matthiessen 296). As the novel comes to a close the last and most bitter truth comes out in the open as Dimmesdale makes his confession to the town, thus being relieved from his terrible guilt and exhausted by life, "die[s] in Hester's arms"(Matthiessen 296). The scaffold holds a very important function in the novel through its protagonistic role.

Light, bright colors, and flowers are frequently used to symbolize "moral goodness" (Waggoner 154). The rose is often a symbol for love and promise (Waggoner 154). The rosebush outside of the prison door is a promise that good occurrences do emerge from bad situations (Waggoner 154). Pearl is usually associated with flowers and sunshine to convey her youth and innocence from "moral judgement"(Waggoner 154). While playing in the forest Pearl is described as being, "Picked out by a beam of sunlight, with some wild flowers in her hair..." (Matthiessen 299). Pearl often plays with the flowers that grow around she and Hester's home. Hester is also associated with flowers and light, as in the forest when she lets her hair flow free a stream of sunlight envelopes her (Waggoner 155). Although Hester is also associated with weeds and dark vegetation, she has paid her penance and, despite her sin, she has a good soul (Waggoner 155). The beauty and happiness associated with light and flowers make these symbols very appropriate in their placement.

The scarlet letter has many more meanings than the r

Some common words found in the essay are:
Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale Hester's, Hester Dimmesdale, Michael Ragussis, Letter Ragussis, Chillingworth Matthiessen, Hester Dimmesdale's, Forrest Gump, Kaul Hawthorne, FO Matthiessen, scarlet letter, waggoner 154, ragussis 65, matthiessen 299, waggoner 155, puritan society, internet 1, matthiessen 296, waggoner 156, prison door, nature color light, matthiessen 299 forest, waggoner 155 dimmesdale, symbolism scarlet letter, outside prison door,
Approximate Word count = 1648
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)