Throughout the novel, Hawthorne uses plant imagery to symbolize both the negative and positive character traits and to set the mood of the novel. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne takes place during the age of Puritanism in Boston where a young and attractive Puritan woman commits adultery with the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale. Chillingworth, Hesters’ husband, whom everyone thought was captured by Indians comes to town, but only Hester knows his true identity. Chillingworth vows to figure out who Hesters’ lover is and he succeeds. Ultimately, this novel contains deception and guilt which is in the form of plant imagery.
Deception and guilt remained evident throughout the novel by the use of plant imagery. All of the characters related to at least one plant in the novel. For the most part, Pearl became portrayed by varieties of positive and negative plant images. Ultimately, the simple ideas of guilt and secrecy lead to a ruined lifestyle.
Plant Imagery in The Scarlet Letter
Robert Brown
4/22/96
Bell 2
Outline
I. Intro
II. Negative plant imagery
A. Living plant life
2. “When poor Mr. Dimmesdale was thinking of his grave, he questioned himself
whether the grass would ever grow on it, because an accursed thing must there
B. Weeds
1. “The powers of nature call so earnestly for the confession of sin, that these black
The Essay on Hester In A Puritan Society
The Puritans, in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, were a group of people who were shaped by English experience and complete involvement in religion. The Puritan society molded itself and created a government based upon the Bible and implemented it with force. The crime of adultery committed by Hester generated rage, and was qualified for serious punishment according to Puritan beliefs. ...
weeds have sprung up out of a buried heart, to make manifest an unspoken
C. Leaves
1. “Thou shalt forgive me! cried Hester,flinging herself on the fallen leaves beside
III. Positve plant imagery
A. Moss
(174)
B. Leaves
IV. Pearl
A. Positive plant imagery
B. Negative plant imagery
2. “Arranged them along the lines of the scarlet letter that decorated the maternal
VI. Conclusion
