Scarlet Letter

Richard Regulski

Professor Colleen Field

English 112

February 19, 2013

The Scarlet Letter

Symbolism generally is the use of objects, people, or words to add deeper meaning to a story. Symbolism can also represent an underlying message that the story is trying to get across. When you think of "The Scarlet Letter" you automatically think of the letter "A" forced to be worn by Hester Pryne the adulterer, but it goes much deeper than that. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism to highlight the conflicts, characters, and events throughout the novel. Among these symbols are the scarlet letter “A” itself. The letter appears in several places in the different forms. Hester Pryne’s daughter Pearl, a beautiful rosebush, a meteor, the sun, a scaffold, and the forest are also symbols used by Hawthorne.

The scarlet letter “A” is constructed out of a deep red cloth and is stunningly embroidered. It is the literal symbol for adultery. Hester Pryne is condemned to wear this “A” on heart for the rest of her life. This letter has other meanings to several characters throughout the story. To the community, the letter simply signifies punishment, The Hester Pryne, it is the symbol of embarrassment and shame. To Dimmesdale, Hester’s lover, sees it as a daily reminder of his guiltiness. The young Pearl is curious and intrigued by the bright red letter. Finally, Chillingsworth Hester’s husband, sees the letter as a chance to seek revenge on Dimmesdale. The scarlet letter was ultimately supposed to be a symbol of shame, but ends up becoming a powerful symbol of identity for Hester. As the novel progresses, the symbolic meaning of the letter “A” shifts. Originally, meant to mark Hester for committing adultery, the letter eventually ends up standing for “Able”, and finally it becomes unspecified. When the Native Americans come to watch the Election Day pageant they think the letter marks her as an important person. In the end the scarlet letter is meaningless, Hester loves her daughter,...