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The interpretation of “the scarlet letter”
Character development of hester prynne
Religion and society in scarlet letter
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Even in the title of The Scarlet Letter, symbolism is present. The most prevalent symbols in the book are the scarlet letter, Pearl, and the red mark on Dimmesdale’s chest. This device is probably the most important literary device in The Scarlet Letter.
The scarlet letter is the most important symbol in the text because it is basically the embodiment of Hester, the main character, in The Scarlet Letter. Hester is given this scarlet letter because of the affair she had while her husband wasn’t present. Throughout the course of the novel, this symbol changes multiple times, it is a hardworking symbol. At the very beginning of the story, it represents adultery because it is put on Hester right after her sin is committed.She chose to make the symbol very ornate and beautiful to look at however, which symbolize her independence and strength. By the end of the novel, you almost forget that the “A” even stood for her sin. It is then considered to be an “A” for able due to the fact that Hester was able to overcome her mistake and
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She is a character but her symbolism in the novel is just as important, if not more important. She represents the price that Hester had to pay for her sin. This is especially true since Pearl is the walking version of the sin that Hester committed. Pearl is Hester's and Dimmesdale's child, not Hester's husbands. In order to have Pearl, Hester gave up her reputation, religion and community, which is why the child is so precious to her. Another attribute to Pearl’s symbolism is the possibility that all can be forgiven and that she’ll grow into more than just a symbol of sin. This occurs towards the end of the novel as Dimmesdale is dying and Pearl is finally acknowledged by him as his daughter. Hester’s main reason for living was ironically Pearl, even though Pearl was a walking reminder everyday of her act of sin. Hester was not the only one in the novel who felt any sense of guilt
Hester accepts the Puritan way and sees Pearl as a creature of guilt. Another symbol of Pearl is her moral virtue.
Pearl is a symbol of Hester’s transgressions and even has similar qualities as the sin which she represents. Pearl’s life and behavior directly reflects the unacceptable and abnormal nature of Hester’s adulterous sin. Hester is plagued with more than just a letter “A”; she is given a child from her affair who is just as much a reminder of her sin as the scarlet letter. Ultimately Hester overcomes the shame associated the scarlet letter and creates a sense of family for herself and Pearl. This relationship is integral to the theme of this novel and the development of its characters.
Pearl being born allowed Hester the strength to become someone in society for the both of them. Pearls search for truth and honesty lead the reader’s to the truth of who her father was. In the end of the novel when Pearl is crying over her dying father, Author Dimmesdale, she is then allowed to become a person with different meaning in her own life. Pearl is no longer the product of sin, but she is a young lady with a bright future ahead of her. Pearl was a stunning character because of her talented perceptive skills, the effect she had on her mother, and the truthful character she was throughout the
Pearl was the result of Dimmesdale and Hester committing adultery. She has wild behavior and serves as a reminder to Hester of her sin, as she reminds her of the Scarlet Letter. She plays a vital role in pushing the story along. Her attitude towards Dimmesdale changes as time goes on. At first, she puts her hand on his cheek and accepts him. Then, she regards him as man entangled in the devil’s doings. Then, she wouldn’t accept him as her father until he revealed himself as her father. At last, she accepts him as her father as he reveals himself on the scaffold. She could finally live her life as a person, instead of this constant reminder to her parents of their sin. The changing attitudes of Pearl towards Dimmesdale really shows how influential Pearl is and how it reflects on the story
Pearl is said to symbolize the result of sin but her character as a child have placed an innocent view of her contribution to the story. As any mother would accept their child she have accepted her “… torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too!”(Hawthorne 38). Hester “represent the violation of social contract” (Egan1), because of her simple imperfection of “struggles to meet the social demands.
The second meaning that the letter "A" took was "able." The townspeople who once condemned her now believed her scarlet "A" to stand for her ability to create beautiful needlework and for her unselfish assistance to the poor and sick. "The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her- so much power to do and power to sympathize- that many people refused to interpret the scarlet 'A' by its original signification." At this point, many the townspeople realized what a godly character Hester possessed. "Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge? It is our Hester- the town's own Hester- who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflicted!" The townspeople soon began to believe that the badge served to ward off evil, and Hester grew to be quite loved amongst the people of the town.
The scarlet "A" is the most important symbol in the Scarlet Letter. The letter "A" does not have a "universally symbolic relationship" with adultery. The letter "A" was the first letter of adultery and the Puritans put the negative connotation on the letter. The community interprets the cosmic "A" as Angel, signifying the passing of Governor Winthrop. The letter on Hester's bosom represented the sin of adultery, yet as that it meant different things to Hester, Dimsdale, Pearl, Chillingworth and the Puritan community. To Hester it represented "alienation and unjust humiliation" .
In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathanial Hawthorne expresses his theme, guilt and blame through the characterization and symbolism of Pearl and the scarlet letter. As we know, following Hester's act of adultery, she became pregnant with Pearl and we get the sense that there is something strange and unnatural about her when first introduced. This is relevant to her symbolism and the many attributes that she represents. Throughout the novel, her symbolism involves innocence, sin, and evil. Furthermore, it is also possible that her name in itself is used to symbolize different elements like a pearl; a treasure much like Pearl becomes for Hester (Hawthorne 41).
In The Scarlet Letter, symbolism in the symbolism in this novel plays a large part in the novel, in the scarlet letter “A” as a symbol of sin and then it gradually changes its meaning, guiltiness is symbolic in the novel, and of course the living evidence of the adulterous act, Pearl. The actions of Pearl, Dimmesdale and fate all return the letter of Hester. They give Hester the responsibilities of a sinner, but also the possibility to reconcile with her community, Dimmesdale and the chance to clean her reputation.
Although Pearl is looked at as the result of Hester’s sin, she is a blessing to her mother as well. Her name, “Pearl,” is fitting because of what she means to Hester. For instance “Hester names her”Pearl” because she has come to great price, and Hester believed that Pearl is her only reason for living,” (Johnson: Understanding The Scarlet Letter pg.1). Pearl motivates her mother to keep on going when she is tempted to give up. In the novel, Mistress Hibbins asks Hester to join her in a witches gathering, but she declines saying if she had lost Pearl, she would have gone.
One of major reiterated object mentioned in this novel was the scarlet letter A on Hester Prynne’s breast. Besides the literal meaning of this symbol, stood a figurative meaning in Hester’s life. Hester was forced to wear this sign as a
...efers to her being a blessing to Hester. Pearl gives Hester a reason to live, and helps to keep Hester's spirits strong.
As a living reminder of Hester’s extreme sin, Pearl is her constant companion. From the beginning Pearl has always been considered as an evil child. For Hester to take care of such a demanding child, put lots of stress onto her life. Hester at times was in a state of uncontrollable pressure. “Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself, betwixt speech and a groan, ‘O Father in heaven- if Thou art still my Father- what is this being which I have brought into the world!’” (Hawthorne, 77).
Often in novels writers use symbolism as a device to make their themes and ideas come across clearly to the reader. In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses many forms of symbolism. People and objects are symbolic of events and thoughts of hawthorn throughout the course of the book. The Scarlet letter itself is a symbol he uses to contradict the puritanical society of the story. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Pearl both as a symbol in the novel, and to work on the consciences of Hester and Dimmesdale.
Initially Pearl is the symbol of Hesters public punishment for her adultery. As the novel progresses and Pearl matures she symbolizes the deteriation of Hester's like by constantly asking her about the scarlet letter "A". Pearl in a sense wants her mother to live up to her sin and, she achieves this by constantly asking her about the scarlet letter. Another peice of evidence that shows how Pearl symbolizes the sin Hester has committed, is when the town government wants to take Pearl away from her Revrend Dimmsdale convinces the government that Pearl is a living reminder of her sin. This is essentialy true, Hester without Pearl is like having Hester without sin.