Symbolism is when something holds a deeper significance or meaning than originally intended. In literature, authors will often use symbolism to keep the reader’s attention and pull them in. Symbolism can allow for a reader to relate on a deeper level to imaginary characters and it can bring a story to life. In the novel, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hawthorne gives almost everything a greater meaning. He allows for his audience to be drawn into the storyline by changing the symbolism behind things and always remembering to add little details and descriptions. Hawthorne, draws readers into his novel, The Scarlet Letter, by adding symbolism to the forest, the meteor and of course the scarlet letter “A”. Hawthorne uses the forest …show more content…
The scarlet letter was stitched onto the chest of every woman who commit adultery and was caught. It was like a warning to other woman not to commit adultery and it was a way to punish those who did. The scarlet colour of the letter represented blood and sin while the “A” stood for “adulteress” because, that’s what the woman was now titled and it was her new identity. The letter “A” was also a symbol of guilt and shame. Dimmesdale may not have had to wear a scarlet letter on his chest or raise Pearl but he did have to deal with the guilt and shame every time he saw a scarlet letter. For example, when he passed, Hester in the street and saw the big, bright symbol stitched to her chest. Or when the meteor traced across the sky, making a letter “A” for him to see and interpret as a symbol of his sins. "No man for any considerable period can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true"(224) and he became so overwhelmed he burned an “A” into his own chest. The scarlet letter was an important symbol to the storyline of the Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter. It held many significant meanings that the reader learns as they did deeper into the novel and use their imagination. The scarlet letter was not only a symbol of adultery but also a symbol of power and of
Hawthorne uses the scarlet letter “A” that Hester Prynne was required to wear as an inanimate symbol of her adultery. She had to bear the sin with her as long as she rested in that town. Pearl, Hester’s daughter from the affair, was the living, breathing symbol of her past sin. As many years passed, Hester began to wear the letter with pride and changed the meaning in her mind to ability. This was significant because it demonstrated her capability to overcome the stares and judgements from her fellow townspeople and to learn to be proud of her daughter, a gift from god. The adultery in The Scarlet Letter relates to The Great Gatsby in many ways.
Carl Jung believed that the source of symbols is universal. Symbols arise from the collective unconscious common to all humans everywhere. Joseph Campbell's research supports this theory; he traces universal archetypes through the stories, myths, and artwork of various cultures. While most work done with symbolism has focused on the universality of symbols, Nathaniel Hawthorn focuses on their personal, subjective meanings.
Symbolism can be defined as a figure, character, or object that is used to represent complex or abstract ideas. By expressing an idea in the form of an image, the reader can visualize the concept more concretely. The old expression, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” applies to symbolism as the author creates a visual representation of ideas. The use of symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter helps to illuminate the overall meaning of the work.
Symbols unlock the secrets of a story. Hawthorne, in The Scarlet Letter, uses many symbols to represent different things. Some symbols represent the same thing. The letter “A” has many meanings, each character has their own meanings, and even the different parts of nature are symbols. Also, apart from providing structure for the novel, each scaffold scene conveys something different. One could say, arguably, that nearly everything in The Scarlet Letter is a symbol for something else.
Hester. On the night of Arthur Dimmesdale vigil, he sees a red A in the
Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter seems to be created around Hawthorne's obsession with the forbidding quality of the scarlet "A", the symbol from which the novel takes its title. Rrom the rose-bush which Hawthorne selects a flower from as an offering to the reader(1) to the "elfish" child Pearl, every aspect of the story is drenched in this letter's scarlet hue. Perhaps this repetition reflects Hawthorne's own repressed desires, as some critics suggest(2). However, what seems more compelling is the function which the symbol serves for Hester Prynne and the community which has condemned her. For Hester the symbol is clearly a literary one; she fashions the scarlet "A" to fulfill the function of telling, in one solid image, her story of sorrow and strength. For the Puritan community the symbol does not lead to truth, but rather conceals it. They place their fears and darkest imaginings into this brand. Hawthorne's possible artistic obsession brings to life a tortured woman, and the torment of the society that inflicts her punishment.
Symbolism, a popular element in literature, is used in various books (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Mirror of Erised), films (Star Wars: lightsaber colors), and poems (The Red Wheelbarrow: the red wheelbarrow). Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the component of symbolism in his book, “The Scarlet Letter”, using both people and things throughout the novel. His first, and, admittedly the most obvious symbol, is the Scarlet Letter. Shortly after, we are introduced to the symbolism one of the main characters, Pearl Prynne, holds and the dense connection she has with the scarlet letter. The final piece of symbolism, that is, again, connected to the scarlet letter as well as Pearl, is the mark on Dimmesdale’s chest.
The Powerful Symbol of the Scarlet Letter In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne's Scarlet. token liberates her more than it punishes her. First of all, Hester's soul is. freed by her admission of her crime; by enduring her earthly punishment, Hester.
adultery but by the end of the novel the "A" has hidden much more meaning than
Human identity is a perplexing concept, one that is difficult to define and often challenging for people themselves, whether philosophers or everyday citizens, to come to terms with. In his novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses an elaborate array of duplicitous symbols in order to illustrate that individual lives cannot be defined by a single, solitary characteristic or event. The symbols of the scarlet letter itself, the scaffold, and the setting of the forest all contain a certain duality of meaning that highlight the variety within the human identity.
When the fate of the scarlet letter encompasses the beholder, it transforms their souls into the symbolic image of Yin VS. Yang. A common Chinese symbol that displays good vs. evil. As the essence of good (Yang) exists through charitable acts, and those who live life with an open heart. Whereas, the power, and the darker side of the light (Yin) comes through as being hidden from society, and relating symbols in life to the underworld. Two opposite sides of the spectrum clashing against one another to coincide. This similar symbol arises in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, as Hawthorne introduces and transpires a significant symbol throughout the novel. This symbol known as the scarlet letter is worn by Hester Prynne, a giving person
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel tells the story of a young Puritan woman who is ostracized from the community because of her sin. An example of early American Literature, Hawthorne uses color to symbolize emotions and imagery.
“Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used by the author to represent abstract ideas or concepts.” Symbolism in literature is the depth and hidden meaning in any piece of work. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a powerful and evocative novel laced with symbolism. The most obvious is the symbol of the scarlet letter itself, representing Hester’s sin of adultery. Hawthorne’s other symbols are less obvious and are very often obscured in the novel.
A symbol relies on imagery to capture influential ideas. Symbols have the ability to captivate a population, negatively or positively, reflecting a community’s ideals and attitude towards the representation. When the scarlet letter is first laid upon Hester’s bosom, it has an extremely negative connotation within her community, which is intended to represent her sin. As the plot progresses, the circumstances and the community in which the novel takes place evolves and the societal attitudes change. With the community’s development, the meaning of the embroidered letter changes to reflect society’s different expectations and values. This evolution demonstrates how the power of the symbol is largely dependent on people’s perception of the token and what they believe its meaning is. The transformation of the Puritan community’s viewpoint during the story reveals the flaws and fragility of Puritanism. Given the religion’s foundation stemming from their disapproval of change in their church in Europe, this is particularly ironic. Hawthorne uses the tri-stage meaning of the scarlet letter as a means to demonstrate the
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."