... in the puritan society. Through out The Scarlet Letter, light is used to show happiness and goodness. One of the most happy and cheerful characters in the novel is Pearl, who is represented by the light. As Fogle (1969) states, "Pearl is the character most recognized for her presence in the sun" (p. 38). The sun is drawn to her as she is drawn to the sun. In one scene, while in the forest with ... is represented by the literary theme darkness. Hester is the main person presented in the novel that represents darkness the best. Hester is represented by the darkness of the novel because sh...

• Word Count: 1649
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... been driven out of Puritan civilization, the forest is the embodiment of a comfortable friend for her. The main purpose of the forest in The Scarlet Letter is to be a place where the truth can exist. Nature serves as an extreme contrast to Puritan values. The sins of the main characters of the book are sins against the Puritan way of life. Because nature is a place free of any constraints, it is a safe haven for all of these characters. Light and darkness ... battle each other in the quest ... ...

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

... complex format. The symbolism of the prison, roses, 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 whole concept. In The Scarlet Letter, images increase the reader's understanding of the characters. The first chapter sets the tone for the story. Though the initial settlers of New England ... set out to establish a ...

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

... an excessive problem with the way of life in Puritan New England and their intent of aspiring to be the city of God, that is why very close to it lies the forest, the mysterious place where twisted malice and the devil himself are to be found. The forest is where the laws of God are left behind and evil sins occur. To establish that the forest is a symbol of evil, light never shines there. Whenever ... light does shine through, it is meant ... to expose the sinful truth and nature in a person, They stood in the noon of that strange and ... ...

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

... off her scarlet letter and takes down her hair as a symbol of her freedom. As she does this, beams of sunlight light up the forest. The scarlet letter is a symbol of shame and punishment for Hester. The letter is originally intended to stand for Hester's sin of adultery. The "A" serves as a physical reminder of Hester's sin, but compared to the mental struggle she goes through every day it is insignificant. With or ... without the letter Hester would feel the same guilt, and she would still be ... ...

• Word Count: 361
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... renewed energy and joy. Dimmesdale regains his vigor and health while Hester flings the scarlet letter off her chest. The mother recovers some of her former beauty, such as described in the beginning of the book. Sunshine suddenly floods the forest with light, and the melancholy brook in the forest suddenly becomes merry. Hester talks to the minister about their daughter and is delighted that Dimmesdale can finally meet Pearl. Pearl, however, approaches ... warily when her mother calls her, eyeing her joyful parents with suspicion. The little girl makes ... ...

• Word Count: 3653
• Approx Pages: 15
• Grade Level: High School

... a last year's nut, and already gnawed by his sharp tooth. A fox, startled from his sleep by her light footstep on the leaves, looked inquisitively at Pearl, as doubting whether it were better to steal off, or renew his nap on the same spot."(137) Even the animals of the forest play around with Pearl because they know that she is a natural child, true to herself. Therefore, nature ... the consequence of Hester's sin of adultery which stays with her throughout the novel. Blatantly the most obvious of the three symbols, the scarlet letter "A" contains the most power, as it is the basis for...

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

... atmosphere. It symbolizes the ability of nature to endure and outlast man's activities, and the futility of symbolic interpretation. The narrator mentions several significances that it may have, but doesn't affirm or deny any of them. The prison itself is a symbol of alienation, foreshadowing the life of Hester after her release. (Fossum 13) The forest is symbolic of nature and contains aspects of both light and dark. During their time in the forest, Hester and Pearl both ... have different experiences. Rays of sunlight fall on Pearl, but not on Hester, which shows Hester's inability .....

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

... Pearl as evil or possessed or rather just as wild and free. The people of the village sometimes refer to her in comparison to the devil, for she throws rocks at their children, says crazy things and had an awful temper. The townspeople also look down upon Pearl because she is a child of sin, the product of adultery and they outcast her as much as Hester. Although many ... as most children do with much physical grace. She seems to fit perfectly in the forest where her wildness can run free; her nature is at one in the woods. As she runs, the light that her mother so desperately seeks fol...

• Word Count: 549
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... the harshness of the Puritan society and the atonement for sin. It was there that Hester was charged, where Dimmesdale came to seek comfort in the night, and where he eventually admitted his crime to the Puritan people. Nature itself represents temporary relief from the outside world. It includes all that is pure; where light is the dominating force. Although Hibbins always invites the characters to see "The Black Man," the forest is the ... only place where Hester can let down her hair and display her pride. The brook within the forest symbolizes a "boundary between two worlds" (p. 191...

• Word Count: 1296
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... to light, suggesting darkness as a state of hiding where the person will not accept life's experiences and holds back. Pearl's eyes are called a "small black mirror," meaning they are empty and filled with sin as they reflect Hester's sin. Hawthorne explains black weeds growing from a sinner's grave as evil coming out and dying. The Puritan's describe Satan as the Black Man in the forest. Black ... is used to symbolize the worst and most evil part of an object or person. Hawthorne employs white and light to oppose darkness as a state of self-containment. White most clearly symbolizes pu...

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

... and beautiful woman, has an affair with an unknown man in her town while her husband is away. Her daughter Pearl becomes the most important aspect of her life after she is born and is the only thing that brings her any light or happiness. Although Hester feels immense regret for her actions, she becomes inspired by Pearl to do good and tries to ... constantly encouraging her mother to reunite with him. Pearl knows that her parents are each others support and stability, therefore pushes them together. When Hester, Arthur, and Pearl met in the forest, Pearl asks her mother if he [loves th...

• Word Count: 1245
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... of God or from his congregation, however, his weaknesses and faults reveals it self. In his dying breath he did not what "the sin here so awfully revealed" forgotten by God (241). Only upon his death does he ask in public for Pearl to "Kiss him", and gives her his only fatherly advice to "not yonder, in the forest" (240). He leads a phony life ... , walking down the street he want to give a "wicked look" at a young "maiden," than wanted to teach "little Puritan children" some "wicked words"(206, 207) Pearl never committed any ... lost his reason to live (244). Tormenting his wife lover ...

• Word Count: 1594
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... playing doctor. Kino and Juana was eating breakfast in the morning light, when Kino saw a scorpion walking slowly down the rope who hold up the hanging box, who Coyotito was sleeping in. Coyotito touched the rope and the scorpion fell. Kino tried to catch the scorpion, but it was to late. The scorpion landed on Coyotito's shoulder and stung the baby. Kino and Juana started to cry wery loud ... a murderer so he Juana and Coyotito hide in Kino's brothers house fore some days. Now he couldn't go across the sea to get to the capital couse somebody might see him. When the evening came Kino a...

• Word Count: 1266
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... pry apart all that is sacred to Dimmesdale and destroy it, murdering him from the inside out. After a period of time, the evil within Chillingworth can be seen through his appearance as well. As Hester stares into the eyes of Chillingworth, "There came a glare of red light out of his Vevoda 2 eyes; as if the old man's soul were on fire, and kept on smouldering duskily within his breast ... to be redeemed, Hester encourages him to have hope. Renewed and full of new found confidence, Dimmesdale says, "O Hester, thou are my better angels! I seem to have flung myself- sick, sin stained, and...

• Word Count: 1073
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... began to become suspicious and he was remembering the white powder. Juana started to rock from side to side and moaned out the Song of the Family. Like the news of the finding of the pearl, the news of the baby's illness also spread like a forest fire. Some said, "Luck, you, brings bitter friends." The doctor returns and checks on the baby. After doing so, he put the baby in Juana's arms and says, "He will ... . He had to wait a little for his energy to arise, because all the crawling had token a lot of energy out of him. When he was ready to attack, he rose from his hiding spot but didn...

• Word Count: 3558
• Approx Pages: 14
• Grade Level: High School

... to her. She is a reminder of her sin and causes her great pains, but she is nonetheless a blessing. When Hester thinks about giving up Pearl gives her mother reasons to go on. When Pearl knows who her father is she is truly human. She always has a certain amount of light on her. She represents to goodness in life. The forest is symbolic in many ways ... , such as the fact that Hester and Dimmesdale can profess their love for each other. In the forest sin tempts them. It is also the place of the "black man." The forest is supposedly where the witches meet. Mistress Hibbins says its were p...

• Word Count: 371
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... subtle but remorseful hypocrite that he was!--the light in which his vague confession would be viewed." (127) They love him all the more for his honest and humble character, and this is Reverend Dimmesdale's intent. Even as he plans to run away with Hester Prynne four days after their meeting in the forest, he comforts himself with the knowledge that he will give his ... he is Pearl's father. Hawthorne has created a forest to offer a sanctuary from the harshness of Puritan life. In the forest, many pivotal characters can bring forth hidden emotions and thoughts. The forest trail leads ch...

• Word Count: 2932
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

... familiarly acquainted with Hester Prynne were now impressed as if they beheld her for the first time-was that SCARLET LETTER, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom.?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 the devil, and Dimmesdale canyield himself with deliberate choice...to what he knew ... night in the forest where Mistress Hibbens holds her witchcraft meetings, wher...

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

... blossom" to be found later in the story. Chapter Two: The Market Place Summary The crowd in front of the jail is a mixture of men and women, all maintaining severe looks of disapproval. Several of the women begin to discuss Hester Prynne, and soon vow that Hester would not have received such a light sentence for her crime if they had been the judges. One woman, the ugliest of the group, goes so far as ... a large book and pen with which people write their names in blood. The Black Man then puts his mark on the person. Hester, tired of Pearl asking about the scarlet letter, tells her tha...

• Word Count: 5572
• Approx Pages: 22
• Grade Level: High School

... by eerie role of the sunshine in the forest. "The light lingered about the lonely child, as if glad of such a playmate," . The sunshine seams almost grateful for Pearl presence, accepting her as an equal, and illuminating her beauty. Perhaps Hawthorn meant this as a biblical illusion to the light of Gods saving grace, and it's welcoming of even the most sinful person. Hawthorne describes another sign of acceptance as the "Great black forest became the playmate of the lonely infant ... ." . Suggesting Pearl's close association to evil. Eventually it is stated, "The truth seems to be, howe...

• Word Count: 1158
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... rage grows even more. When Hester realizes what is going on between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth she receives permission from her husband to reveal his identity to the minister. Dimmesdale learns of this in a romantic scene in the forest where all problems seem to be temporarily forgotten. He is shocked and agrees to flee to Boston with Hester and Pearl. However, Dimmesdale soon realizes ... he cannot go on without publicly acknowledging his guilt. When returning from the forest, he is changed and writes a new sermon for Election Day when he will finally reveal his sin in the third and ...

• Word Count: 1498
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... her to behave more politely, but in reply Pearl "paused to gather the prickly burrs from a tall burdock." She then began to "arrange them along the lines of the scarlet letter." After Dimmesdale's comment about her behavior, Pearl "threw one of the burrs at Mr. Dimmesdale." Dimmesdale "shrunk, with nervous dead, from the light missile." When Pearl saw how she effected him she "clapped her hands ... in the most extravagant ecstasy." Hawthorne is obviously showing how Pearl is there to remind ... Hester and Dimmesdale of their horrible sin, and to further escalate their pain and sufferin...

• Word Count: 421
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... from Governor's Winthrop's mansion. Pearl sees Dimmesdale who is near death and asks him if they will all stand together on the scaffold at noon the next day. Dimmesdale says that they will stand together on the great judgment day. Dimmesdale notices a red light in the shape of an "A" and he notices Chillingworth watching them. Dimmesdale asks Hester about Chillingworth but she says nothing ... . The next day in church one of the people give Dimmesdale his glove which he had left on the scaffold. Chapter XIII: Another View of Hester Hester sees the changes in Dimmesdale over time. ... ...

• Word Count: 2183
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... peacefully. Hester and Pearl was relieved from their guilt. The theme within the story is unconfessed sins leads to the destroying of the soul. Hester who was dubbed with the guilt, openly admits it thus her soul was not destroyed, instead she gathers strength and courage to stimulate her soul which radiant with more light. In the other hand, Dimmesdale hid his secret from others which slowly ... corroded his soul, leading to sickness and guilt. Later when he confesses, he was released from the painful and died peacefully. Important Passage: "Mother," said little Pearl, "the sunshine doe...

• Word Count: 720
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School