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The Effective Use of Symbols in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
Webster defined "symbol" with these words: "Something concrete that represents or suggests another thing that cannot in itself be pictured." This concept has been particularly applied to literature and used by writers throughout history. Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter uses multitudes of symbols in such a manner. One of the most prominent, and most complicated, of such symbols is the scarlet letter "A". The scarlet letter "A" is a symbol of a daughter's connection to her mother, isolation, and the devil and its associations.
The scarlet letter represents Pearl's emotional attachment to Hester. For instance, Pearl is as deeply affectionate to the letter as she is to her mother. In chapter ten, Pearl takes "a handful of [burrs], [and she arranged] them along the lines of the scarlet letter." In this instance, Pearl is showing her fondness for her mother by decorating her letter - as if the letter itself were a medium between the two. Additionally, Pearl views the letter and her mother as equals. During chapter fourteen, Hester decides to remove her letter while in the forest. Thus, Pearl is reluctant to approach her. Hester, realizing what is wrong, says, "Pearl misses that which she has always seen me wear." After she returns the letter her bosom, "Pearl kissed [Hester's] brow and both cheeks ... but ... Pearl put up her mouth, and kissed the scarlet letter too. (Hawthorne)" Because of the fact that Pearl equates the letter to her mother, the letter is as deep a symbol of motherly connection as Hester is herself.
In addition to emotional attachment, the scarlet letter represents isolation. Whoever wears the letter will be feared by so...
... middle of paper ...
...references to the devil and Hell make it clear that the letter is indeed infernal.
The scarlet letter "A", the most intricate symbol in the novel, is extremely diverse as its meanings strongly contrast. Often times, these meanings of the symbol are directly stated, but they are frequently indirect as well. The symbol's meaning can also be expressed through a variety of methods such as character dialogue, narrative, or allusions through imagery. Despite the differences between maternal love, estrangement, and avernal entities, the letter is still able to encompass these concepts into its symbolism.
Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Langenscheidt's Pocket Merriam-Webster Dictionary. New York: Langenscheidt
Publishers, Inc, 1999. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 1997.
Based on a calculation by one of their competitors, this rate is based on a two year time period.
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A symbol is an object used to stand for something else. Symbolism has a hidden meaning lying within it; these meanings unite to form a more detailed theme. Symbolism is widely used in The Scarlet Letter to help the reader better understand the deep meanings Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays throughout his novel. He shows that sin, known or unknown to the community, isolates a person from their community and from God. Hawthorne also shows this by symbols in nature around the town, natural symbols in the heavens, and nature in the forest.
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Symbolism plays an important role in the Scarlet Letter. The scarlet "A" is used to represent sin and anguish along with happiness. The "A" has different meanings to people other than what was originally intended. The scaffold is used as a place of repentance and judgment by God. Pearl is another major symbol used as a reminder of the scarlet letter.
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel written by Mark Twain during the late 1800’s (Mintz). The book brought major controversy over the plot, as well as the fact that it was a spin-off to his previous story, Adventures of Tom Sawyer. This book has remained a success due to Twain’s interesting techniques of keeping the audience’s attention. Chapters eleven and twelve of “Huckleberry Finn,” uses a first person limited point of view to take advantage of the use of dialogue while using many hyperboles to add drama to entertain the reader by creating description within the story without needing to pause and explain.
Hawthorne's use of symbols clearly enhances The Scarlet Letter. From the setting to the characters themselves, the novel is filled with symbols that work together to provide a deeper, allegorical meaning. The symbolism contained in Hawthorne's works provokes much thought in the reader, through which the reader can enjoy the story much more. For this reason, The Scarlet Letter can accurately be described as a "symbolic masterpiece."
Twain, Mark and Thomas Cooley, ed. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Norton Critical Edition. 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1999.
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