Symbols and Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter Symbolism in literature is the deepness and inscrutable meaning in a piece of work. It is often used to playact a moral or religious belief or value. Without symbolisationization literature is just a bunch of meaningless words on paper. The most symbolic piece of work in American writings is Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter. Hawthornes use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter is nonpareil of the most significant contributions to the rise of American Literature. Much of Hawthornes symbolism is real hard to find but several symbols are too obvious. In the first chapter Hawthorne describes the prison as the black flower of civilise lodge. The prison represents the crime and punishment that was incorporated in the early prude life. He also contrasts the prison with the tombstone at the end of the invention by suggesting that crime and punishment bring about the end of civilized life. In the same chapter he describes the overg rown vegetation of weeds roughly the prison. The weeds symbolize how corrupt civilization really is. He also points out a positive symbol, the wild rose bush. This represents the blossoming of unsloped out of the darkness of all civilized life. The most important symbol which is carried throughout the novel is undoubtedly the scarlet letter A. It initially symbolizes the baseborn act of adultery but by the end of the novel the A has hidden much more meaning than that. The A appears in legion(predicate) other places than on the chest of Hester Prynne. It is seen on the armor breastplate at Governor Bellinghams mansion. At night while Dimmesdale is stand up on the hold he sees a bright red letter A in the sky. While Pearl is playing near the bay shore she arranges several(prenominal) grass in the form of an A on her own breast. simply one of the most important As is one the spectators see burnt on Dimmesdales chest. The letter A also has a variety of meanings. Originally standing for the sin of adultery it has a different meaning for each character. The puritan community considers the letter a mark of just punishment. Hester sees the letter as a symbol of unjust humiliation.