Symbols and Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

The Power of the Symbol in The Scarlet Letter All classic literature uses symbolism in one way or another. Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter is no different. The very basis of every character, their personal appearance and way they act revolves around one thing, the Scarlet Letter. The scarlet letter is an "A", in crimson fabric, worn by a Puritan woman for her act of adultery. Its very existence is solely to cause shame and remorse on Hester Prynne and her daughter Pearl, who was

Symbolism  in The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne isn't noted for perfecting any famous literary style, for writing multiple best sellers, or even for contributing largely to classic American literature.  His only real claim to fame is The Scarlet Letter: a novel that was originally only meant to be yet another Hawthorne short story.  Because of this, it actually possesses many short story characteristics.  "It is simpler and more complete than his other novels." (James 285)  It also has

Nathaniel Hawthorne once said, “I do not want to be a doctor and live by men’s diseases, nor minister to live by their sins, nor a lawyer and live by men’s quarrels. So, I don’t see that there is anything left for me but to be an author” (Nathaniel). This statement describes Hawthorne’s personality and life in a way that no other quote could. Nathaniel Hawthorne was an Anti-Transcendentalist writer meaning that he had a negative view of all humans. The Anti-Transcendentalist movement was a pessimistic

. Thesis 1: In Nathanial Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter,” there is a variety of symbolism that can be revealed throughout the novel that lead back to the theme of how sin can ruin someone’s life. Thesis 2: Nathanial Hawthorne’s “The Scarlett Letter,” describes many characters with many different personality traits that lead to the main theme of how sin can ruin a person’s life. Annotated Bibliography Crowley, J. Donald and Amory Dwight Mayo. "Chapter 66: A[Mory] D[Wight] M[Ayo]: Hawthorne as

Nathaniel Hawthorne incorporated many different symbols to help portray what he envisioned for the book, The Scarlet Letter. His symbols are key to understanding his novels. The primary symbol he used was the scarlet letter A itself. A symbol is something that is used to represent something else. In literature, a symbol has a different meaning. A symbol is an object used to signify an idea or quality, often like a moral, something religion-based, or realistic concept or value. Three ways he

Equiano. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter does not contain any depiction of direct captivity such as slavery, but instead focuses more on perceived confinement and freedom. Throughout the novel, there is subjugation and the relinquishing and denial of liberty by numerous characters. The characters of this novel are tortured by discerned constrictions imposed mainly by themselves and, unlike Equiano, do have the ability to determine if they should be suppressed. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet

Symbolism can be defined as a figure, character, or object that is used to represent complex or abstract ideas. By expressing an idea in the form of an image, the reader can visualize the concept more concretely. The old expression, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” applies to symbolism as the author creates a visual representation of ideas. The use of symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter helps to illuminate the overall meaning of the work. At the beginning of the book, the

Nathaniel Hawthorne Puritan Influence Nathaniel Hawthorne drew from his personal and childhood experiences to write his literary works. The event that affected him and showed in his writing was “...the infamous Salem witch trials had taken place more than 100 years earlier, the events still hung over the town and made a lasting impression on the young Hawthorne…("The Scarlet,"History.com). By the event having a impact on him from a young age it affected his writing and helped him in the development

Statement and Outline Thesis Statement: Nathaniel Hawthorne used symbolism to bring meaning into his book "The Scarlet Letter." I. Symbolism A. Definition B. Style II. Symbolism in characters A. Hester B. Dimmesdale C. Chillingworth D. Pearl III. Symbolism in objects A. The scarlet letter B. The scaffold C. The forest D. The brook IV. Symbolic relations between characters and objects A. Characters and the scarlet letter B. Characters and the scaffold C.

Symbolism of Forest’s Aspects in Relation to the scarlet l`etter A In the Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne discusses the hurdles Hester Prynne, the protagonist, goes through due to her sinful nature with her child, the mocking Puritans, and the past always creeping up on her. Often these obstacles appear when she is in the forest, making it a very critical locality in the book. Nathaniel Hawthorne brilliantly uses symbolism to convey how the three main aspects of the forest—the stream, the logs