Summary Of Symbols In The Scarlet Letter

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses symbols to reflect Hester's problems with The Scarlet letter, the meteor and pearl.

The first form of symbolism and most mentioned symbols throughout the book is the “A”. The scarlet letter is the letter “A” worn by Hester Prynne and, the letter that is embroidered onto all of Hester's clothing. The letter “A” represents hester's sin adultery. The letter marks Hester as a sinner. The “A” symbolizes the “walking emblem of shame.” (Hawthorne 6). In the novel, there are many examples describing the "A". Hawthorne first describes the "A" by saying, "that SCARLET LETTER, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom.” (Hawthorne 40). Another way Hawthorne describes the letter is in chapter 12. The scene where Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale are out at midnight and a meteor appears in the sky in the shape of an "A". To Dimmesdale, the meteor means he should wear the letter of shame just as Hester. The scarlet letter is not only the symbol of shame, it becomes Hester's main identity. The meaning of the letter changes as time passes, “...that many people refused to interpret the scarlet "A" by its original signification. They said that it meant "Able"; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength" (Hawthorne 124). The letter marks Hester of a person of value, importance. The letter changed

The scarlet letter shows a symbol of shame but instead conveys the opposite and shows who hester truly is. Her true identity and how strong she truly is. The meteor, to Dimmesdale meant that he should wear a scarlet letter too just like hester. The puritan community thinks it stands for “angel”, and is there because the governor died. Pearl shows a symbol of adultery and sin because she leads Hester and Dimmesdale to accept their sins even with her demon like traits pearl just wanted