Color symbolism in The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is story about Hestor Prynne, a woman who commits a sin and is filled with many feelings, including pride, surrounding that sin. Many of those around Hestor's sin reflect similar emotions and feelings. Hawthorne employs many symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne uses the colors red, black, and white to represent Hestor's emotions and the emotions of those around her. The most frequently employed color symbol by Hawthorne is red. Red most obviously represents Hestor's sin, as shown by her scarlet "A" she is forced to wear. Her scarlet letter, like her sin, is something she must always deal with and is something she can never escape. Pearl, the product of Hestor's sin, is usually dressed in red clothing, representing the sin. Pearl is also called the names "Ruby," "Coral," or "red Rose," and "a little bird of sca
Hawthorne uses reds, darkness, and light, to express character's emotions and the state of their spirit. Red is passion and sin. Darkness represents a poor state with self-denial, as well as representing simply evil. Light symbolizes a state of enlightenment and a refreshed spirit, as well as purity. The color symbols in The Scarlet Letter help to transfer certain themes and ideas to the reader, as they are easily recognized and identified. Hawthorne's symbolism shows the simplest events of one person permeating throughout a society. Hawthorne also uses black and darkness as symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter. Black is used to represent evil and hiding. Hawthorne calls the prison the "black flower of civilized society," meaning it is evil and a place concealing the truth. Frequently Hawthorne makes references to darkness turning to light, suggesting darkness
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Approximate Word count = 590
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)
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