... will also tell you about them and what they mean in the story. It will also give you some quotes out of the story to prove the meanings. The symbols that will be described are the letter A, Pearl, Plants, and the names of the characters. The latter A signifies many different things. The first thing that it signifies in the story ... grass. She makes it but she does not know what the letter a means, but she does know that the letter is the reason that they live like this. The last symbols are the characters. Their names are very symbolic to how they act. Pearls name represents the treas...

• Word Count: 542
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... is a symbol of it. Pearl's function in the novel is a symbol, used to show that the production of Hester and Dimmesdale's illicit actions did not produce evil, but a beautiful and precocious, young girl. (Bloom 64) Pearl, at a young age, is fixated on the "A", as most children would be. Her existence fails ... but helps in explaining Hester's offense. She symbolizes the union of her two parents, outside of marriage, and is therefore labeled as a strange or evil child. However, all of her actions in the novel are innocent and devoid of blame. She is also very curious, shown by her questi...

• Word Count: 1366
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... admired by everyone, and why she is a symbol of strength. The city in which the novel takes place and the forest just beyond it represent good and evil. The city tries to reflect the "City on a Hill," a utopian town flowing with the human ideal for the city of God based upon His laws ... be good in order to fit in to the city. Those who leave the city and go into the forest are looked upon as bad and evil. Hawthorne believes there was an excessive problem with the way of life in Puritan New England and their intent of aspiring to be the city of ... uses symbolism here is another way f...

• Word Count: 1820
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... her chest caused her to be isolated by the townspeople. They are all hypocrites for being the same people who go to church weekly repenting their sins. Hawthorne uses many symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne uses the colors red, black, and white to represent Hester's emotions and the emotions of those around her. The most frequently used color symbol by ... scarlet plumage," further extending Pearl as a red representation of Hester's sin. Hawthorne also uses black and darkness as symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter. Black is used to represent evil and hiding. Hawthorne ca...

• Word Count: 1044
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... of Hester Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale. The child is born out of the sin of adultery, and according to Hawthorne she is, "An imp of evil, emblem and product of sin, she had no right among christened infants."" (Hawthorne, 2000, p. 45) Hester herself often glimpses flashes of this ... evilness in her child. Hawthorne writes of her, "It was a face, fiendlike, full of smiling malice - and that "It was as if an evil spirit possessed the child - (Hawthorne, 2000, p. 45) The sinful nature of Pearl is also evident in her everyday existence in that she enjoys causing ... of living sin. Moby ...

• Word Count: 654
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• Grade Level: High School

... heart. The final resting place of the wrongdoer has now been separated from other graves as the sins are manifested by natural powers. The next area is symbols in the skies. Our first instance occurs during the second famous scaffold scene. Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl are atop the scaffold when, "a light gleamed far ... . Pearl on the other hand, who is young and pure, is able to freely romp about in it. Last to be discussed are the natural symbols that we encounter in the forest. When Hester meets Dimmesdale in the forest, all the sorrow of the past few years since their sin is brough...

• Word Count: 1118
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... ", whoa just gave one away! A symbol is defined as something that stands for or represents something else, especially an idea, quality, or condition. Symbols, also, can be objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent, in most cases, ideas or concepts, which in novels, usually contribute to ... , will prevent even an attempt to carry a small chat. The forest, where no one ever ventures, is seen as a place of misbehavior and evil in the Puritan system, which is why Hester uses this as a place for freedom and solitude. Hester goes there to do what she must, without ... used to r...

• Word Count: 2041
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... the natural world, which is captured in Hawthorne's rich use of imagery. He uses the representation of light and darkness to help portray good and evil in society. Plant and growth imagery is also used to reveal the temper of each character. The forest is a third way in which nature ... characters. Hawthorne uses the romantic ideal of nature to represent the psychological and moral states of different characters. Hawthorne uses symbols of light and dark to depict the battle of good and evil among the characters of Hester, Pearl, and Chillingworth. The sun is used as a symbol of good nat...

• Word Count: 1017
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... The Scarlet Letter, I can think of two more major examples where an object was used as a sign or omen. The first is of course the letter, it meant evil, shame, and sin to the townspeople. All it was, was a letter nothing more, nothing less. The second object that people took as a prolific sign was the weeds ... In those times people were taken to mean things as well. Hester was good hearted and almost clean but was seen as a sinful evil person, to be avoided at all costs. Chillingworth was seen as a kindhearted doctor only there to help people when in actuallity he was an ... minister, o...

• Word Count: 498
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... , the scaffold, the letter "A," contrasts between light and dark, and the forest throughout the novel are the undefined characters. An understanding of these symbols is vital to a complete comprehension of the complexity of the story; Hawthorne technique of using symbolism is brilliant and it helps the reader understand the ... sin are invariably traits of human existence. It is in this prison, the "black flower of civilized society,"(1358) the first contrast of good and evil is introduced. In front of the prison grew a rose bush "covered in this month of June, with its delicate gems"(135...

• Word Count: 1915
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... the book seemingly two different stories. The first story denotes the story going on in the book, including the characters. The other story has symbols that speak on morals, religious doctrine, and public mindset. Furthermore the novel can be defined as a romantic novel by analyzing the characters Hester, ... in people despite social order and natural rights. Another romantic nature symbol is the forest, which symbolizes both safe and evil aspects. An instance of the forest being evil can be revealed when Mistress Hibbins approaches Hester to invite her to "dance with the dark man", this...

• Word Count: 1687
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... Jesus Christ, we can see that Dimmesdale represents a Christ figure for the Puritan society, and Hawthorne uses this to criticize Puritan society. So, through the symbols of hypocrisy, Christ, and The Scarlet Letter we can see that Hawthorne uses Dimmesdale as a symbolic character of Puritan society, rather than the personal character that ... tho promise to hold my and thy mothers hand to-morrow?" It is commonly agreed that the colors are used extensive in The Scarlet Letter as symbols. This is illustrated by the scene by the prison door, but the use and importance of the symbol grows a...

• Word Count: 964
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• Grade Level: High School

... do for him, except it tempt him-yea, compel him, as it were- to open ignominy, that thereby thou mayest work out an open triumph over the evil within thee and the sorrow without" We can see that he wants Hester to help him confess his sin, but she refuses so he will not get in ... in his personal affairs. When he finally confesses, he is granted some peace, at least in death because he does not have to suffer anymore. However other symbols show that he is not redeemed because the scarlet letter was engraved into him, showing that it will always be a part of him and also when he talks ... ...

• Word Count: 1619
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... majestic tone when Hester wears it. Pearl, Hester's child, is viewed as a child of sin by the Puritans, and who should be treated ugly, evil, and shamed. Hawthorne however words to combat that ideal when he places Pearl above the rest of the children in intelligence, free spirit, beauty and kindness ... to know it," once again this shows the difference between Romanticism and Puritanism, as the Puritans felt that anything that came from the forest was evil. (194) Pearl had a knack of fitting in with natural things. Puritanism puts all of its stock in the religious leader of the communit...

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... grassy-margined streets of the settlement, or in her mother's cottage. The flowers appeared to know it." Pearl fit in with natural things, which was considered evil to the Puritans, (Encarta) but Pearl is showing them how the forest is beautiful and natural. According to chuckii.com "Hester's child, is symbolic of ... society." Pearl changes the puritan society because she is the outcome of the scarlet letter, and was rebellious to the Puritan way of life but not evil. Even though something can be really tough to cope with, Hawthorne suggests that we are still able to learn from it. Thr...

• Word Count: 647
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The Scarlet Letter Thresholds- Doors, Steps, and Scaffolding Throughout the novel "The Scarlet Letter" I was to examine and discuss some of the various symbols. The symbols I focused on pertained to thresholds, they were doors, steps, and scaffolding. Each played a very significant role throughout the novel. They helped to describe setting, character development and moods throughout the ... of ghastly fire that darted from Bunyan's awful door-way in the hillside- Chapter 10, page 91: " these holy impulses may or may not coexist in their hearts with the evil inmates to which their guilt has u...

• Word Count: 1018
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• Grade Level: High School

The Scarlet Letter In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, he uses many symbols that tie into the character's lives. Hester has the scarlet letter as punishment of her sin. Dimmesdale has the meteor as his own mark of shame. They both have Pearl ... as the end result of their sin. Sin is intertwined with all of the characters in the book and the symbols used to represent them. Hester Prynne, the town's seamstress, committed adultery and for her punishment she has to wear the scarlet letter. The "A" stands for her sin, but as the ... becomes the living version of the scarlet letter. Pear...

• Word Count: 435
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• Grade Level: High School

Hawthorne uses symbolism in The Scarlet Letter to offer a hidden meaning, or a deeper insight into his characters. Some symbols reveal inner feelings of the characters, while others show the reader double meanings to events or objects in the story. Two examples are Pearl, as well as the Forest. Pearl ... rules of society do not apply. This allows for misbehavior, when as Hester lets her hair down and takes off her scarlet "A"". As a result, the lawless forest comes to represent evil and temptation, while the actions that take place in the forest reveal peace and freedom. The forest shields p...

• Word Count: 493
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... she is released from her pledge. This life of public repentance and honesty, although bitter and difficult, helps her to retain her sanity while Dimmesdale, mired in deception, loses his. Symbols Wild Rose Bush: Located just outside the prison door, it is the only sign of life near the prison, and has a single red blossom on it.The rose may serve ... .?p.51 The Forest:The forest has two main symbolic functions. It is the home of the Black Man but also a place of freedom. First, the forest can symbolize darkness and evil. It is a place where witches gather, and souls are signed away to th...

• Word Count: 1015
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... have a deeper importance in the story. As his name suggests, Chillingworth is a man deficient in human warmth hence the beginning "chilling- of his name. This character is shown as a very evil person throughout the novel. "In a word, old Roger Chillingworth was a striking evidence of a man's faculty of transforming himself into a devil,""(152). Hawthorne uses Chillingworth as a symbol to portray the wickedness ... of his characters, but also can represent the main ideas within his novel. Perhaps Hawthorne is trying to express that the names and characters within his book can serve as sy...

• Word Count: 500
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• Grade Level: High School

From Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, One of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book is Pearl, the illegitimate daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmsdale. Because Pearl was born from a man other than Hestor's husband, the townspeople call her the devil ... her attractive features. This being one of her abnormalities, the townspeople call her a demon child as the author describes, "Pearl was a born outcast of the infantile world. An imp of evil, emblem and product of sin, she had no right among christened infants." Another odd thing about Pearl is her fear of bein...

• Word Count: 442
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School