What Does The Forest Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

The symbols and motifs in The Scarlet Letter are scattered throughout the novel. One of the motifs that recurs in the novel is that of the forest. The forest, according to the citizens of Boston, is where the Black Man lurks, even though the forest hasn’t been touched by humanity. During Chapters 16-18, Hester and Dimmesdale encounter each other, and Dimmesdale can admit his misery, and confess his love for Hester. The forest also allows Hester and Dimmesdale to be free of their sin. On page 184, Hester removes the scarlet letter, saying, “Let us not look back. The past is gone! Wherefore should we linger upon it now? See! With this symbol, I undo it all, and make it as it had never been!” Her willingness to remove the symbol seems to indicate that the forest is a safe place, where Hester cannot be punished for the removal of the scarlet letter. Another minor motif is the names of the characters. For example, Roger Chillingworth is very unsympathetic throughout the novel. However, you only need to see the chill in Chillingworth to see that he is cold hearted. The same goes for Hester Prynne, who is an adulterer, and whose last name rhymes with sin. Also, as far as sin goes, the scarlet letter that Hester wears starts out as a mark of shame, with the “A” standing for adulterer. However, as the novel progresses, the letter

Feminism, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes”. However, The Scarlet Letter is a feminist novel, because it does feature a strong female main character. Hester is a single mother who is raising a child and supporting herself and her child through her profession as a seamstress. Although Hester is an outcast, he is successful in her career, as seen on page 89, when she is delivering gloves to the governor. This would seem to indicate that she is successful, as only a talented seamstress would be commissioned to make a an ornate pair of gloves for such a high ranking