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Use Of Imagery In The Scarlett Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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“She had not known the weight, until she felt the freedom” (Hawthorne 250). The Scarlet Letter is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne that follows Hester Prynne after she committed adultery. Hester Prynne is first seen holding her child, Pearl, with a red scarlet “A” on her bosom during her punishment on the scaffold. Pearl is the result of adultery, so the town wants to know who the father is, but Hester refuses. During her last night in jail, Hester is visited by Roger Chillingworth, her husband, whom she had seen in the crowd. Chillingworth threatens Hester and makes her promise to keep his identity unknown. After Hester’s release, she lives secluded in a cottage out in the forest. She independently raises Pearl and lives life day by day. On …show more content…

Imagery can also appeal to the reader’s five senses. The main types of imagery include visual, auditory, gustatory, tactile, and more. Hawthorne use of these throughout The Scarlet Letter for many different reasons. For example, how the scarlet letter is described in the novel is an example of visual imagery. The quote “...in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A,” creates a vivid image in the reader’s mind (Hawthorne 59). Being the central symbol of the novel, the letter A’s depiction of being “fine red cloth” and “a glance that would not be abased” also suggests its importance (Hawthorne 59). It emphasizes what the symbol means to the protagonists and the other characters which are then received in the form of an image or symbol. Hawthorne also uses imagery to describe the setting of the novel including how the Puritans looked. In particular, “a throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments, and gray, steeple-crowned hats….” is a description given to the guards of the jail (Hawthorne 52). The “wooden edifice” and “iron spikes” also create a scene of what Hester is experiencing in jail (Hawthorne 52). Especially in this example, imagery gives the effect of creating a solemn mood which sets the tone of the novel. Alongside imagery, the mood is also used in the Scarlet

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