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The Symbolism Of Sunlight In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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The Sunlight
Christine Quinn once said, “...when you come out of hiding, in whatever way you’re hiding, you get to go out into the sunlight.” The significance of sunlight is crucial to the sustainability and well-being of human life on earth. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses sunlight to symbolize happiness, and it is also used to exemplify freedom.
From the beginning of The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne portrays Hester as deprived of happiness. “‘No, my little Pearl!’ said her mother; ‘though must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee’”(Hawthorne 94). Through these words, Hester explains to Pearl how she has no happiness left in her to give to her daughter. Her happiness has been taken away through her past decisions and current ignominy. Hester’s shame from her past sins has given rise to her feeling that happiness is unattainable. …show more content…

Dimmesdale continually tries to confess his sins. He even stands on the scaffold one night. “The magistrate, after a wary observation of the darkness,--into which, nevertheless, he could see but little further than he might into a mill-stone,--retired from the window”(Hawthorne 136). Dimmesdale was so close to being discovered of his sin and being set free, but the darkness blinded the woman at the window from seeing him on the scaffold. These punishments will never bring freedom to Dimmesdale because he acts in darkness where nobody can see. Bringing something into the light is what will set him free from the bondage. Also, when Hester and Pearl were in the forest together, Hester tries to put her hand in the sunlight to play with her daughter, but the sunlight refuses to shine on her because of her inward oppression and lack of

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If Hester had not had Pearl she may have followed long the path of Anne Hutchinson, but she had to be an example for pearl and had to continue the punishment. Hester also changes no longer the same woman of seven years prior, instead of her tender and passionate self she becomes a bare and harsh outline of herself. She also begins to wonder

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He discusses Hester's daughter, Pearl, and how the fall of Hester would also affect Pearl's livelihood. Hawthorne explains, “often impelled Hester to ask, in bitterness of heart, whether it were for ill or good that the poor little creature had been born at all.” Hesters admittance of the fact that she has contemplated whether or not Pearl deserves to be alive signifies Hawthorne's use of a complex tone. Within the statement, he shows how Hester is recognizing that the life she has brought Pearl up in is not ideal. Out of the sorrow in her heart that she has for Pearl, Hester realizes that her daughter may have been better off never being born, as Hester has lost the abilities that she once had to be a loving mother.

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Even thus early had the child saved her from Satan’s snare.” This passage further supports the previous evidence, and it suggests that Pearl will continue to save Hester throughout the text. Although some may say that Hester, because she is not very caring, should not be able to keep Pearl, they are mistaken. Because of her crime, Hester is learning many lessons which she can pass on to Pearl. “ ‘this badge hath taught be,­­it daily teaches me,­­it is teaching me at this moment,­­lessons whereof my child may be the wiser and better…”’

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Symbolism Within The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne created symbolism throughout The Scarlet Letter in order to develop the theme throughout Hester’s life. Hester is portrayed as a sheltered soul, shunned from society due to her adulterous acts. The red A and her daughter, Pearl, are symbols of Hester’s shame which she bares proudly despite society's harsh judgements. Hawthorne is able to use symbolism to develop themes, characters, and analogies in the Scarlet Letter.

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However, as you dig deeper, you will see Hawthorne’s true purpose for writing the novel. In the Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses irony to criticize the Puritan ideals. Hester’s Scarlet “A” is used to show how imperfect the Puritans are. The narrator describes Hester’s scarlet letter when he says: “On the breast of her gown,

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Her defiance becomes stronger and will carry her through different hardships. Her determination and lonely stand repeats again when she confronts Governor Bellingham over the issue of Pearl’s guardianship. When Bellingham wants to take Pearl away from Hester, Hester reply’s with, “God gave me the child! I will die first!”(Ch.). When also pressured even more for the child’s care, Hester pleads, “God gave her into my keeping.

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Cassandra Abbarno Mrs. Melissa Lyons AP Lit 29 October 2015 The Scarlet Letter RRJ Chapters 11-13 In chapters 11-13 of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne focuses on just a few of the many motifs involved in the novel. The Day/Night motif as well as the Evocative names play an important role in the part of the book. If we recall just chapter 12 alone, “The Minister's Vigil”, we see Day vs Night play out in front of us.

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The sunlight entering the dark forest casting joy and rejuvenation upon the shadows parallels the emotions that come with casting something off that has defined her for so long. The relief is felt within Hester when the conflict is resolved between social obligations and personal feelings. The release Hester feels comes from and end of fighting her responsibility to the community by wearing the scarlet letter and being defined by her sin. All her life in the puritan community had been a struggle to keep her spirited personality against the community trying to brand her as a bad person and once she is free from the community’s judgements, represented by the letter, the pleasure felt comes from the release of her life long

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When she sees Dimmesdale repeatedly placing his hand over his heart, she asks her mother why he does that. Every time she asks, Hester is reminded of Dimmesdale and how their sin keeps them apart. Whenever Pearl asks about the letter that Hester wears, she is reminded of the reason she has to wear, even if she won’t tell Pearl the real

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In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s literary work “The Scarlet Letter,” Hawthorne uses the setting in order to effectively develop a theme. With several reoccurring facets in the setting, Hawthorne implies that these certain aspects have more significance than others. From chapter 16-19, sun light is used to underline the theme that happiness cannot be achieved through lies and guilt. In chapter 16 as Reverend Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne meet in the forest, the sun light plays a key role, allowing the audience to interpret the true feelings of the characters. Although they have love for each other, the sun light ceases to shine because they cannot truly hold happiness in their hearts alongside lies and guilt.

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As stated in chapter six, "Her [Hester] only real comfort was when the child lay in the placidity of sleep. Then she was sure of her, and tasted hours of quiet, sad, delicious happiness; until—perhaps with that perverse expression glimmering from beneath her opening lids—little Pearl awoke!" (Hawthorne X) Pearl is Hester 's greatest treasure, but she cost Hester everything. Because of Pearl, Hester has no chance at a happy life, but Pearl brings her happiness. Pearl is almost like a paradox.

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Pearl is trying everything to make her mother realize she is a sinner but to not let the sin take over her whole life. At one point in the book Hester removes the scarlet

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Within chapters sixteen to twenty-four, light and dark function as symbols with very specific meaning. The light generally represents “good,” as well as the approval of God and happiness. The darkness, however, is associated with “bad,” as well as concealment of sin and even evil. The two are pitted against one another throughout the novel. Within the assigned chapters, the light and the dark illustrate conflicts between characters as and add to the importance of specific events.

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This effects her every day life going out in public and getting ridiculed by all the towns people she is surrounded by. Hester Prynne doesn’t just have to live with a mistake right on her shirt, but people also help her remember past. She does have her daughter or her “sole treasure.” The young girls name is pearl and she is not exactly like the others. It isn't easy because her and her mother are considered different in the community so she is lonely but very

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Receiving the scarlet letter changed every aspect of Hester’s life. Especially at the start of the story, the letter symbolized the solitude and great suffering Hester faced just because of a letter placed on her bosom. The “A” also depicted how no one viewed Hester the same way as before her peccant actions. “…she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance” (Hawthorne 109). The pejorative community Hester lived in never saw Hester as the beautiful, young woman she was, but now, as a horrible fiend.

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