Preview

Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
98 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
Excellent literature contains a meaning beyond the surface level of what is read. This complexity and deepness makes the author's message more powerful. After all, an author instructing a reader on a virtue is ineffective compared to a story that plays with one's feelings, drawing a reader in to impart a valuable lesson. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism to reveal information about his characters and illuminate his message to the reader. Through symbolic meaning, the scarlet letter, sunlight, and Pearl add to Hawthorne’s story to enlighten the reader on the characters and message.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Symbols In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Symbols In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    There are a lot of symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter. Some symbols stay the entire book other just fades as the book goes on. Three of the biggest symbols that stay the entire book are the Roses on the prison door, the scarlet A, and Pearl.…

    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Analyzing Plot In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter
    • 1136 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Analyzing Plot In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter

    In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne outlines the plot of the story through his specific placement of three very significant scenes which take place on the scaffold: Hester's public punishment for committing adultery, the minister's vigil and reunion with Hester and Pearl, and lastly, the revelation of the scarlet letter. The second scaffold scene in Chapter 12 is substantial in that it is the first time that the Reverend Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl have all come together and acknowledged their ties to one another. However, the climax of the story does not take place until Chapter 23. Here, Reverend Dimmesdale publicly reveals that he, too, bares the scarlet letter ‘A' (whether literally or symbolically,…

    • 1136 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    pointing out he beauty and "perfect elegance". He never once pointed out a flaw of…

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter
    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter

    In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, many concepts and ideas are represented and shown by using symbols. Hawthorne’s concrete symbols used to epitomize abstract ideas change meaning as characters, notably the main character Hester Prynne, grow and change. With its connotation changing from negative to positive, the symbol of the scarlet letter “A” represents Hester as adulterous, angelic, and able.…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Sins In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'
    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Sins In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

    In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, numerous perspectives show the different ways in which people deal with their sins and keeping secrets. The composed manner of Hester Prynne is contrasted with the weakened Arthur Dimmesdale to reveal the effects of secrets on the mind. The longer one tries to hide a shameful secret, the faster it will deteriorate them from the inside.…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter
    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter

    In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism to reinforce the idea that, for every action, there is a positive or negative effect that will follow. In simple terms, if you do something bad, there will be a negative consequence. One of the main recurring symbols in the novel is the scarlet letter itself. The scarlet ‘A’ that Hester Prynne wears in the novel is worth a lot more than just its material value, it relays many ideas and themes. The ‘A’ is a punishment for one of the worst sins that could be committed; adultery. The punishment that is caused by the scarlet ‘A’ manifests itself in different ways and in different people. For example, Hester’s punishment comes in the form of public embarrassment and shame, whereas Minister Dimmesdale’s guilt comes in the form of personal guilt. The ‘A’ means different things at different times in the book also.…

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hawthorne's Symbolism in Scarlet Letter
    • 609 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hawthorne's Symbolism in Scarlet Letter

    Symbolism was a literary movement during the nineteenth century that influenced many poets. Symbolism is anything that stands for or represents something else. "The Scarlet Letter", by Nathaniel Hawthorne is filled with symbolism which he uses to unify the novel and add a deeper level of meaning to the story. In the novel, the three most important symbolisms were the forest, the scaffold, and the scarlet letter "A" on Hester's bosom. But the symbolism of the scarlet letter "A" outweighs every other symbolism.…

    • 609 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter
    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter

    Symbolism is one feature in The Scarlet Letter that Nathaniel Hawthorne uses quite a lot; and I find it especially interesting how he is able to cleverly use metaphors to get this symbolism across. Symbolism runs wild throughout the book in the form of Pearl. Pearl is like an extended metaphor in a sense because, throughout the romance, Hawthorne uses her as a living reminder of the Scarlet Letter and the sin that Hester commits. This strategy adds an interesting element to the book since the reader is constantly reminded of Hester’s condemnation without Hawthorne having to continually speak of the Scarlet Letter and the sin attached to it. I personally feel bad for both Hester and Pearl because of the way others treat them.…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Scarlet Letter Literary Analysis Essay
    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Scarlet Letter Literary Analysis Essay

    In "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathienal Hawthorne, the narrarator places symbolic connections between Hestre's daughter, Pearl and the life Hester endures after her commitment of an adultrious sin. Hester is forced to look upon her daughter; a living embodiment of the ultimate sin commited as a contant reminder of the past. The erry details used to describe Pearl as well as her actions enforce the sifficance of the consequence Hester must be reminded of evryday for her action in the past. In profiding such deatils, readers become intreged as well as suspicious as to why Pearl behaves in such a dark and myseterious way. By describing such a dark soul beneath a name associated with such beauty and value as Pearl is, enforcees the hardships Hester…

    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    False Individualism In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
    • 208 Words
    • 1 Page

    False Individualism In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

    In The Scarlet Letter, a novel by author Nathaniel Hawthorne, rugged individualism is a reoccurring theme with certain characters throughout the text. Rugged individualism expresses the idea of someone doing what is believed to be right for themselves despite the consequences that may be placed on the person or the people around this person. In The Scarlet Letter, there are multiple events in which rugged individualism takes place, but the two characters that show the most rugged individualism throughout the novel are the main character Hester Prynne, and Roger Chillingworth.…

    • 208 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Foreshadowing In The Scarlet Letter Essay
    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Foreshadowing In The Scarlet Letter Essay

    Nathaniel Hawthorne in the novel, the scarlet letter, portrays the level of wickedness that lives within humans. Pyle proves this to his audience by his precise and various strategies. Hawthorns dramatic irony both helps build suspense while foreshadowing how blind the Puritans are towards Chillingsworth true character, he foreshadows the pain and suffering Chillingworth will soon unravel upon dimmesdale; he does this through foreshadow, hyperbole and point of view.…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Symbolism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Symbolism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    (An analysis of the letter ‘a’ and all the symbolisms behind it from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter.)…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Feminism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
    • 146 Words
    • 1 Page

    Feminism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    What is the correct meaning of the powerful word “feminist?” Today, feminism is usually referred to as a woman who supports her rights. Hawthorne represents feminism through his character Hester, in “The Scarlet Letter” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Although people view women as weak, Hester was a strong female character that stood up for herself by raising her daughter alone, protecting her secret lover, and even experiencing the pain of wearing the shameful letter “A.” Usually, men view women as weak by saying that they are not able to do certain things that men can, which is irrelevant. Hester raised her daughter Pearl all on her own without any help. even though raising a child on your own is very challenging at times. While constantly…

    • 146 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter
    • 1110 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter

    Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most widely known authors to use symbols in American literature. In the book, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, he uses symbols to represent an idea. An example of this would be religious, moral, or philosophical concept or value. An allegory in literature is a story where characters, objects, and events have a hidden meaning and are used to present some universal lesson. Hawthorne demonstrates this type of symbolism in the book because the Puritans saw the world through allegory. Puritans saw simple patterns, like the meteor streaking through the sky as a religious or moral interpretation for human events and objects, such as the scaffold, were ritualistic symbols for sin and confession. Puritans…

    • 1110 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Symbolism Of 'A In The Scarlet Letter'
    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Symbolism Of 'A In The Scarlet Letter'

    This letter A is not only a symbol of sin and guilt. It is also a symbol of goodness and holiness, for when Governor Winthrop dies, people think that the meteor is a symbol that the governor's soul has been received in heaven, and this he transcended this gloomy world to become an angel in Heaven. At the end of the novel, the letter A stands for the word 'able' and symbolizes the fact that Hester has proven herself as one who is in the help of anyone who would need her help. It can be noticed that by the progression of the novel the scarlet letter has ceased to be a stigma.…

    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics