Essay On Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter

Pearl’s existence reminds Hester of her act of passion, which the cultural morality of Boston dictates as sinful. This is evident not only because Pearl is the product of Dimmesdale and Hester’s action, but because of who Pearl is at heart. Pearl’s personality is as stated,

In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne characterizes Pearl with contrasting personalities and roles she plays in Hester’s life. Pearl’s conflicting personality components, innocence and defiance, both derive from her isolation from society, which transpired because of her mother’s sin. Pearl represents the conflict between everything good and dark, which reflects in the role she plays in Hester’s life, as the physical embodiment of the A. While Pearl serves as a savior to Hester, representing possible redemption, she is also Hester’s tormentor, a constant reminder of her sin, and the consequences of disobeying her Puritan nature and religion. Hawthorne’s intent is established in the novel through Pearl’s attachment to the A, the mirror

Hester would sacrifice everything she had for Hester. The importance of Pearl to Hester is expressed when the narrator says “But she named the infant “Pearl,” as being of great price, ---purchased with all she had, --- her mother’s only treasure!” (Hawthorne 82). Hester more importantly wanted to teach Pearl what she learned in her sin. Pearl was the result of her tremendous sin and she saw the beauty in the baby being born while everyone else looked at Pearl as if she were a devil child. Pearl is a representation of the constant guilt and shame that Hester has to continuously live with. This guilt was expressed through public shame and the fact that the first thing that Hester saw when she was born was her mother's Scarlet letter and she would constantly be distracted by the letter and it reminded Hester of the way everybody saw her. Her willingness to do anything for Pearl leads to her giving into her childish demands. Pearl, being born out of her mother’s sin, does not want the scarlet letter to leave her mother. This is expressed in, “The child will not let her mother cast the scarlet letter aside because Pearl herself is emblem of a passion which partook of that same heathen, natural wilderness. ("Hester's Double Providence: The Scarlet Letter and the Green”), which shows how Pearl wants all three of them to stand on the scaffold. Pearl was much focused on the

In The Scarlet Letter, Hester has finally been released from prison. After she was released, she was able to leave Boston, but she decided against it. Because of her wrongdoings, the community has shunned her. Even though she is shunned, she still has the means to provide for herself and her daughter, Pearl, by her magnificent sewing skills. Pearl helps her get through all that she is going through. Because Pearl is the result of Hester's sin, everyone treats her differently.

In chapter six’s passage, Hawthorne emphasis Pearl’s beauty and her grandiose character, even though she was created out of sin and guilt. Hawthorne juxtaposes the town’s perspective of Pearl, as being a child of wrongdoing, to Hester’s view of her being an angelic figure, which a glowing spirit. The text presents the idea that although the town forced Hester to wear the scarlet letter to repent for her sin; however, its effect entirely contradicted its purpose. Not only did the scarlet make Hester realize the beautiful, self-fulfilling outcome of her actions, but it also altered her perception of the difference between wrong and right to one that negated society’s imposed beliefs.

In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne builds Pearl as a character of duality, both in her personality and in the role she plays in Hester’s life. Pearl’s conflicting personality components of innocence and defiance both derive from her isolation from society, which transpired because of her mother’s sin. Pearl represents the conflict between everything good and dark, which reflects in the role she plays in Hester’s life, as the physical embodiment of the “A.” While Pearl serves as a savior to Hester, representing possible redemption, she is also Hester’s tormentor, a constant reminder of her sin, and the consequences of disobeying her Puritan nature and religion. Hawthorne’s intent is established in the novel through Pearl’s attachment

Webster defined "symbol" with these words: "Something concrete that represents or suggests another thing that cannot in itself be pictured." This concept has been particularly applied to literature and used by writers throughout history. Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter uses multitudes of symbols in such a manner. One of the most prominent, and most complicated, of such symbols is the scarlet letter "A". The scarlet letter "A" is a symbol of a daughter's connection to her mother, isolation, and the devil and its associations.

Hawthorne and Washington tie characterization in all three stories by the use of thoughts, dialogue, actions, and characters. It is presented through direct and indirect characterization. In the short story “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Hawthorne gives thorough descriptions of Reverend Mr. Hooper and the townspeople. The minister uses a black veil as a response for social commentary of the townspeople’s sins. These actions cause commotion amongst the people and rumors fly around fast, especially after the death of a young maiden.

“You are free to make whatever choice you want, but you are not free from the consequences of the choice” (Benson). In the Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne shows that Hester makes a lot of choices, but she is not free from the consequences of those choices. Pearl is a result of her choice to commit adultery, so Pearl represents many things. Sometimes dealing with Pearl is a continuous struggle for Hester, since in her eyes Pearl is a difficult child. Pearl in some ways represents Hester’s sin, and in others ways shows how the consequences of her choices help Hester to realize to make wiser and better choices.

The Scarlet Letter tells the tale of a woman named Hester Prynne who has an illegitimate child, Pearl, with one of Boston’s well-known ministers, Arthur Dimmesdale. Set in Puritan New England in the 1700s, the environment encircles the Puritan beliefs as well as the Puritan government. Caught by the town when she starts to show, Hester is sentenced to prison time and public humiliation for her adultery. As she raises Pearl she encounters her eccentric behavior and wild actions in stride as she has difficulties establishing just punishments for her. Over the course of the novel, Pearl develops into a main character, daringly questions the townspeople, and leads Hester away from evil, which increases her significance in the novel.

The Scarlet Letter is filled with symbols and was probably the most symbolistic book I have ever read. Even the title contains the biggest symbol in the book. The scarlet letter is embroidered to be a symbol of shame and of sin, but on the contrary, it becomes

“But she named the infant ‘Pearl,’ as being of great price,—purchased with all she had,—her mother’s only treasure!” (74). Pearl is the quintessential symbol of Hester Prynne’s life after her punishment is determined. In the novel, the author takes the reader back to the Puritan days where a woman, Hester Prynne, commits adultery and is sentenced to wear a scarlet letter ‘A’ for life. Throughout the novel, Hester raises Pearl, her daughter, alone while her partner, Dimmesdale, carries on his life as a well respected minister. The scarlet letter isolates her from the rest of the townspeople with only Pearl to accompany her. Hester’s isolation is exemplified many different, powerful symbols. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of the major symbols includes Pearl who represents the joy, sorrow, and punishment in Hester’s life.

Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter In the book The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism, which is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, to make objects, people, and actions more significant. The use of these symbols creates greater meaning and significance of different actions, objects, and people There are so many symbols in this book, but here are some of the most important symbols. Hester Prynne's scarlet letter

“Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken, The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part. Had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. Towards her mother, too, pearl’s errand as messenger of anguish was all fulfilled.”(267) She was the one bringing the grief of the scarlet letter on beth her mother and father, whee he died and she kissed him he was released and in that moment so was Hester. She was the reason the scarlet letter was significant in their lives because she was the one controlling it. She was the constant reminder and only when she let them be free were they free, through death or through

In my opinion, The Scarlet Letter is a redemptive and celebratory novel. In Chapter 13 Another View of Hester, years have passed and Hester has become more involved in society. Pearl is now seven years old and the letter “A” is still upon Hester’s breast. Hester knows that people still see her as an adulterer and she has accepted that. Although people still hold the fact that Hester is an adulterer she is now becoming known for her charity work. For example, “Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge?’ they would say to strangers. It is our Hester—the town’s own Hester—who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted!” (106). In this quote, redemption is being shown and the people of the town are in