Symbolism in the Scarlet Letter

William Walsh  

Mr. Kahn 

English IV 

‎4 ‎January ‎2016 

Conflicts

In the novel The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne faces many obstacles while searching for happiness, one of which being her almost losing custody of her daughter, Pearl. In chapter 8, in an encounter between Hester and Governor Bellingham, Hester is confronted with the dilemma that many people do not see her to be fit to take care of her child. She is told by Governor Bellingham: The point hath been weightily discussed, whether we, that are of authority influence, do well discharge our consciences by trusting an immortal soul, such there is in a yonder child, to the guidance of one who hath stumbled and fallen, amid the pitfalls of this world Governor Bellingham, as well as the Puritan society do not think that Hester Prynne should be allowed to mother and raise a child because she is a sinner. The scarlet “A” that Hester wears is a constant reminder to herself and society of her sins. They fear Hester teaching her bad ways of sinning and adultery to an innocent soul and want to protect the child. It is Mr. Dimondale who ends up saving Pearl from being taken away from Hester by bringing up the idea that God is the one who gave Hester the child, and that it would be wrong to doubt God or think that God had made a mistake. 

Another problem that the scarlet “A” causes for Hester Prynne is that it prevents her from being with Arthur Dimondale, the minister. Once Hester Prynne is known to society as an adulterer, it becomes clear to her that she cannot pursue any relations with Dimondale, Pearls’ father. Hester takes time to isolate herself and her daughter and during this time she realizes that she can never live her happily ever after with Dimondale in the Puritan society that they live in. One day when Hester and Pearl are walking together in the woods they coincide with Dimondale. During this confrontation Hester And Dimondale discuss the toll that their sins have...