The Symbolism of Red and Black in "The Scarlet Letter"

A detailed Summary of The Symbolism of Red and Black in "The Scarlet Letter"

Hawthorne uses red and black imagery to reveal a secret, a character's emotion, or the truth about a character. The red and black symbolism advances the story. He sometimes uses red and black in nature, with flowers or the sky. Some objects are red and black and symbolize something about the owner of that object. Red usually indicates sin, passion, and love. Black often indicates bad things, evil, and hate. Hawthorne uses red and black imagery to reveal characters. The symbolism deepens and foreshadows the action of the story.

Hawthorne uses red and black imagery in nature when he says that the prison is the "black flower of civilized society". He calls it the "black" flower to confirm that it is a bad place. It is a bad place for Hester because she had been imprisoned there, condemned for her adultery. The prison is a black flower because it contains evil. It is represented as a flower because it grew from the society.

"Before this ugly edifice, and between it and the wheel-track of the street, was a grass-plot, much overgrown with burdock, pig-weed, apple-peru, and such unsightly vegetation, which evidently found something congenial in the soil that had so ea

The red and black imagery that Hawthorne uses is found throughout the entire story of The Scarlet Letter. By making objects, things in nature, and feelings red or black, Hawthorne reveals the outcome and future of the character that is referred to the object. Red throughout the book is a savior to Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl. Black destroys Chillingworth. The red and black imagery tells the reader much about the character that is referred to. Hawthorne's red and black symbolism gives the reader a more in-depth view of the story.

Hawthorne demonstrates a character's feelings using black and red imagery. Chillingworth schemes for revenge. Black symbolizes burden and bad things. Hester is justified in this quote because she had rescued Dimmesdale from the blacker ruin that Chillingworth has planned for Hester's lover.

"But, as he came down the pulpit-steps, the gray-bearded sexton met him, holding up a black glove, which the minister recognized as his own" (137).

The significance of the red letter changed. It came to represent Hester's care for her neighbors. It was not seen for Hester's one crime, but for her remarkable good deeds and her service to the public.

Red things seems to save sinners. Pearl wears red often, she is her mother's savior. The scarlet letter is a burden, but also a relief to Hester because it takes away her guilt. Black objects often foreshadow harmful events to the main characters.

When Dimmesdale is associated with red, it takes on a different meaning. It is an evil representation of him. The red glare from out of his eyes symbolize his wickedness.

"Ever and anon, too, there came a glare of red light out of his eyes; as if the old man's soul were on fire, and kept on smouldering duskily within his breast, until, by some casual puff or passion, it was blown into a momentary flame" (148).

"The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her, -so

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Approximate Word count = 1309
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English