Analysis Of The Scarlet Letter Symbolism

The Puritans were people from England that came to America seeking religious freedom. They were called Puritans because they wanted everything to be pure. I know the scarlet letter is the letter “A” and that stands for adultery.

The narrator’s attitude the puritans were a little rude, he talks as if he does not like them. He says how they are stuck up and jealous of Hester, and if he were to like them, he would not talk about them this way.

He likes Hester Prynne though, he talks about her beauty and he feels that her punishment is very harsh. A symbol talked about in this novel is the letter “A”. “A” stands for adultery, he also talks about a beautiful rose bush and that could symbolize Hester. The theme of this novel is sin or adultery. The author uses his tone toward the Puritans as a rhetorical device.

Nathan Hawthorne presents Chillingworth in a daydream that Hester Prynne is having.

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We later see him as a curious man, he asks a local townsman who Hester was and why she was up there. We later come to find out that Chillingworth is her husband who lied to her. He said for her to travel to America and that he will meet her there later, he never travels to her because he is caught by an Indian. The theme of this chapter makes me skeptical of Chillingworth because he wants revenge on Hester. A symbol could have been when Chillingworth raises his finger to his mouth telling Hester to keep quiet once they recognize each other.

Nathaniel uses repetition and foreshadowing when Chillingworth says “He will be known!- He will be known!- He will be known!”

The scarlet A makes Hester feel lesser, it almost is degrading to her. This also makes society look at her as inferior because of her sin, when some of them have also committed the same sin. Even some children mock her as she is walking down the street. It acts as a constant reminder of her past and her sin. Pearl is a bullet, she is strong-willed and goes against the grain. She screams at the children passing and throws rocks. Pearl is said to be the scarlet letter in human form. Pearl is pale and is called pearl not because of that but because she is Hester’s one true prize. The theme of this chapter is hypocrisy because even though they all see Hester as inferior, yet still make her sew their elegant and extravagant clothes. Pearl is a symbol of the Scarlet “A”. Hawthorne uses an allusion to describe pearl’s character, he says “the infant was worthy of been brought forth in Eden.”

Hester explains that God gave her Pearl as a consequence and constant reminder of her sin. She says that Pearl is the Scarlet letter reincarnated. Hester dresses Pearl in Scarlet red with gold accents just how Hester’s A looks. She serves as a constant reminder of what Hester did in the past. Dimmesdale chimes in and says that taking away Pearl would be taking away from the Lord’s will and removing her punishment. A symbol of this chapter is when Pearl explains that she was “plucked from a rose bush outside the prison door”. She is a symbol of passion and Hester and Dimmesdale's relationship. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses foreshadowing when Hester gets invited to the forest with Mistress Hibbins, she will later meet Dimmesdale in the forest.

Chillingworth is determined to figure out who is Pearl’s father and get his revenge on them. He believes it is Dimmesdale and sets out to “help” him. He does this by giving him herbs that make him feel worse rather than take the pain away. Dimmesdale’s inner struggle is knowing that he committed adultery and is the father of Pear, but cannot tell anyone. He is drowning himself in his guilt, it is making him sick and causing him to abuse himself. He uses a whip to scourge his back. Pearl is a symbol of the living scarlet letter, she is a rotten kid who goes around stomping on graves and disrespecting most people. The Meteor striking foreshadows the release of guilt that Dimmesdale feels when he confesses to the community his sin. This chapter is centered around the guilt of Dimmesdale and the revenge Chillingworth feels towards him.

Many may see the scarlet letter as “able”. They may see it this way because of how Hester has overcome her sin of adultery. She was able to make a life for herself and pearl while living in the town where she sinned. She has also helped others in the community, for example, she gave to the poor. People see her doing these actions and their opinions on her slowly change. She feels that she is no longer defined by the sin, she has embraced it and learned how to overcome the guilt. She has become more involved in society and less of an outcast. She also pays Dimmesdale visits more often. These chapters focused on overcoming Hester’s sin and overall growing as a person. Chillingworth is seen as a symbol of Satan because he is blinded by his vengeance. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses alliteration in the Scarlet Letter in chapter 13, he states “Now, however, her interview with the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, on the night of his vigil, had given her a new theme of reflection, and held up to her an object that appeared worthy of any exertion and sacrifice for its attainment”

Hester and Dimmesdale have an unspoken love, they have not talked in seven years, but they still love each other. Their love is also based on sin, their actions, and past mistakes. Due to Dimmesdale being viewed as a very high up person, they cannot act on their love for each other. The people of Boston would lose all of their faith in him as their reverend. I also feel that Dimmesdale values his job and the way others see him more than his secret love with Hester. This chapter is focused on the decisions a person makes, and how these define them in society. Dimmesdale's secret painful heart symbolizes his guilt from his past. Hawthorne uses connotation when referring to “the black man” because both Hester and Dimmesdale feel a sense of remorse for their previous actions.

Due to Dimmesdale's death approaching, he felt that the world should know of his guilt. He confessed with passion, he rips down his ministerial band, revealing the A he has carved into his chest to the crowd of people. He does this because he feels this is a better way to make peace with God rather than leaving for England. All the built-up guilt, poison, self-abuse, and forgiveness cause Dimmesdale to lose his life. These chapters talked about guilt and how it affects a person when it gets built up. When Pearl cries after Dimmesdale places a kiss on her cheek, it is a symbol of release of all the built-up evil. Hawthorne uses irony when Dimmesdale would hold Pearl’s hand in the forest, but not in public with everyone watching.

Hester returns from England and helps those who are lower down in society. Hester is pleased with this role because of the reality that her true love, Dimmesdale, has died. She feels this is a continued penance for her sin even though she has been forgiven by society. She wants to brighten people’s lives the way Dimmesdale brightened hers. She later passes away and is buried next to her love. Pearl continues to live a full life in England where we can sense she is married and preparing for a child. The scarlet letter is as a symbolism of positivity now, rather than negativity and sin. These chapters focus around how through all of life’s obstacles, keeping your eyes focused ahead and a positive mindset, you can turn your life around. Hawthorne once again uses irony when the A by the end of the book that Hester is wearing begins to stand for respect instead of what it is supposed to mean, which is a type of sin.  

Works cited

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