Ambiguity in The Scarlet Letter

A detailed Summary of Ambiguity in The Scarlet Letter

The element of ambiguity, in which the meaning of something is unclear, allows Nathaniel Hawthorne to "mingle the marvelous" in his 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne's continual use of this element gives the book a certain air of mystery; therefore permitting the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. One is constantly weighing the natural versus the marvelous reason for an event. The Scarlet Letter illustrates ambiguity throughout the entire novel.

The first occurrence of ambiguity is concerning the rosebush, outside of the prison where Hester was kept. No one truly knew the origin of the rosebush. Hawthorne leaves it up to the reader to decide whether the rosebush "had survived out of the stern wilderness" or "whether it had sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Ann Hutchinson".

There is also an additional instance of ambiguity with the rosebush. But, this time it also concerns Pearl. When passing the rosebush at the Governor's home, Pearl asks her mother for a rose. Later, when she is being questioned where she came from, Pearl replies, "that she had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison door". The natural reason for this is that Pearl wanted a rose from the Governor'

This occurs as well with the creek later in the novel. While Hester meets with her Dimmsdale, Pearl goes off to play. She encounters the creek, which is ambiguous as herself. Both Pearl and the brook have unknown origins. "Pearl resembled the brook, in as much as her current life gushed from a wellspring as mysterious".

Last, there is ambiguity with the Reverend Dimmsdale's final penitence. He climbs onto the scaffold and confesses his sins. Next, he rips open his shirt and then dies. "With a convulsive motion, he tore away the ministerial band from before his breast. It was revealed!" "Most of the spectators testified to having seen a scarlet letter imprinted in the flesh". The origin of the letter is ambigious. Hawthorne presents several solutions to the mystery. First, Dimmsdale had inflicted it upon himself. Others said that Roger Chillingworth had caused the mark. "When old Roger Chillingworth had caused it to appear through the agency of magic and poisonour drugs". Last, some believed that it had been caused by Dimmsdale himself. "Others whispered their belief that the awful symbol was the effect of the ever-active tooth of remorse".

Another instance of ambiguity is why Hester remains in Boston. She could have very easily left and not been forced to wear

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Approximate Word count = 856
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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Ambiguity in The Scarlet Letter

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