Symbolism and the Scarlet Letter

A detailed Summary of Symbolism and the Scarlet Letter

Symbolism is traditionally a sign or token of something. In the matter

of literature, the definition of the literary device, symbolism, is

more complicated. Symbols of literature are usually metaphysical. The

main symbol of The Scarlet Letter is the red "A" that Hester Prynne was

sentenced to wear on her chest. Nathaniel Hawthorne's intention was to

make the meaning of the crimson token worn on the bosom of Hester

Prynne is highly ambiguous. In this he was successful. Although the

"A" means "adulteress" to the people of Boston, to reader the "A" may

have other meanings such as "American" or "able". To the townspeople,

author, and reader clearly the original intention of the "A" was to

stand for "adulteress". When Hester Prynne became pregnant during the

absence of her husband she was accused and convicted of adultery. Her

sentence was to wear a scarlet letter "A" on her bosom to let everyone

know that she was an adulteress, forevermore. Because of her unique

sentence everyone knew that she was, in fact, an adulteress and people

treated her that way. Society condemned her for her sin, without

knowing anything else. Hester was forced to live alone on the

important accomplishment was her ability to overcome her sentence. She

intention of the "A" was to mark Hester Prynne as an adulteress, it

symbolizes America, is that they were both shaped by past actions. No

and embrace who she was, not what she was labeled as. The main symbol

separated from her husband for 2 years. She thought he might be at the

the story, and symbolism is a major literary device of the story. The

she was an adulteress, or that she was proud to be. Hester's daughter,

Approximate Word count = 1717
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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