Metaphorical Analysis in The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, tells the story of Hester Prynne, who was convicted of adultery in colonial Boston. As punishment, Hester was forced to wear the scarlet letter “A” on her chest as a reminder of her sin. Hester gives birth to a child, Pearl, who is the living reminder of Hester’s adulterous act. Hawthorne uses a great deal of symbolism to discuss various themes throughout the novel. One recurring symbol is the rose-bush which is introduced in the first chapter. This rose-bush grows outside the prison door amidst unsightly vegetation. The rose-bush can be compared to Pearl, who is the gift Hester has been given as result of her punishable sin. Pearl is Hester’s rose; she is beautiful and brings joy to Hester. Yet every rose has its thorn, and likewise Pearl is the living reminder of Hester’s sin. The rose-bush is also a symbol of Hester’s passion and survival. “Before this ugly edifice, and between it and the wheel-track of the street, was a grass-plot, much overgrown with burdock, pig-weed, apple-peru, and such unsightly vegetation, which evidently found something congenial in the soil that had so early borne the black flower of civilized society, a prison. But, on one
Some topics in this essay:
Essentially Pearl, Pearl Hester’s, Reverend Dimmesdale, Hester Wilson, Hester Prynne, Pearl Pearl, Pearl Hester, Governor Bellingham’s, Scarlet Letter, outside prison, Wilson Puritan, scarlet letter, outside prison door, rose-bush outside prison, puritan society, prison door, rose-bush outside, unsightly vegetation, hester’s passion, hester’s sin, throughout novel, reminder hester’s, wear scarlet letter, amidst unsightly vegetation, forced wear scarlet,
Join now to see the rest of the essay!
Approximate Word count = 1487
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
Example Essays Home
