The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a book in which many things and people are also used to help symbolize the meaning of the whole story. This novel is the first novel in the United States to use symbolism. Three of Hawthorne’s use of symbolization would be the three meanings of the scarlet letter A, how Chillingworth represents self-destructive revenge for sin, and how the sunlight in the forest represents truth and redemption. The scarlet letter ‘A’ was worn by Hester Prynne, the main character of this novel.
The A means one thing at the beginning of the story, and throughout the story, the A begins to bring on different meanings. Hester is accused for adultery in which her punishment would be to wear the scarlet letter to symbolize a lifetime of humiliation (Hawthorne 52).
One night, Rev. Dimmesdale, the secret lover of Hester Prynne, invites her and their daughter, Pearl, to join him on the scaffold (138).
While upon the scaffold, a meteor brightens the dark sky (138).
All the townspeople sees a glowing A and thinks of the A as meaning the Angel of the former Governor Winthrop’s place in heaven (138).
Seven years later, she has become a stronger woman and thinks for herself. She also becomes more active in society by nursing the sick, helping the poor, and making clothing (141).
The Essay on Scarlet Letter 2 Hester Pearl Punishment
... a new meaning, able. In the thirteenth chapter of this book, Hawthorne comes out and in the third person states "the scarlet letter had ... not done its office." Hester has gone beyond ... evil and hate of this story is embodied in this little girl. Hawthorne raises the question of how Hester actually sees Pearl by ...
The letter A now stands for “able” rather than “adultery” (141).
Chillingworth is Hester Prynne’s husband who comes back after being lost at seas. He symbolizes a leech, and self-destructive revenge for sin. Like a leech that sticks to someone and sucks the blood from ones soul, Chillingworth spends all his time towards Dimmesdale, as he makes him sicker with his own guilt.
Chillingworth tells Dimmesdale where the ingredients for the medicine he mixes comes from and Chillingworth claims they come from the heart of a man who keeps a hideous secret that was buried with him, and never confessed (113).
Dimmesdale says perchance he earnestly desired it, but could not (113).
In intent to reveal Chillingworth’s secret to Dimmesdale, Hester and Pearl walks into the forest hoping to meet up with him on his way from some Native American settlement. The sunlight in the forest seems to run away from Hester as if it is scared of something that she beholds (161).
The sunlight symbolizes truth and redemption. As soon as all truth is revealed between both Dimmesdale and Hester, she takes the scarlet letter off of her bosom and throws it to the ground (178).
As soon as this is done, the whole forest is shined on by the sun (178).
Nathaniel Hawthorne symbolizes various of meanings with the emotions and sins of the characters and objects in this book. The three symbols that I’ve chosen were some of the more important symbols of the book.
