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What Does The Color Red Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

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The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, was concluded in a way that it brought more questions to the mind of the reader than answers. This is not only because there are pieces of the story that are seemingly left unanswered, but it is also because of literary techniques used throughout the novel that serve to convey a meaning beyond the story's surface, therefore leaving the reader with what they feel is an inconclusive ending. However the ending does not inappropriately concludes the work; the way the book was finished helps the reader think for themselves, which is important because when people come to their own conclusions about something, they tend to possess a much stronger a belief than if it were just handed to them by the …show more content…

In the beginning of the work, it is stated in reference to the rose bush by the prison door that it, "May serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow" (5). Throughout the novel we see many linking similarities between the character Pearl and the color red. Red is the color of the rose bush by the prison door, of the letter on her mother's breast, and it is a color her mother frequently dresses her in. Like the way the rose bush serves as the sole pleasant thing in the vision of criminals, Pearl is a wonderful thing in the hopeless world her mother built for herself, however her behavior is a thorn in her mother's flesh. Hester's scarlet letter represents her sin, shame, and wealth. Not the wealth that is all money and riches, but wealthy in a way where she has all that she needs in life as long as she has Pearl. Pearl is a symbol of her Mother's red letter, she represents Hester's sin and shame, but also all of the wealth she needs. Hester dresses her in scarlet as a constant reminder of what she did, but also all the good that has come from having Pearl in her life. With the fate of Pearl unknown, the reader does not know for certain whether the work is sorrowful or

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Although while she embodies, Hester’s wild side, she also represents the sin that she committed to create her. Pearl is the reason she has the scarlet “A” on her clothes. In first scaffold scene, Hester hides her scarlet “A” by shielding it with Pearl, irony was prevalent, as she was hiding what literally called her an adulterer, with something that symbolized her being an

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426 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout the passage from The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses Hester’s baby, Pearl, to illuminate the theme of beauty in a dark place. Once released from prison, Hester, an adulterer, becomes a public spectacle. Through this hard time, Hester has her daughter Pearl to soothe her and to bring her strength and hope for a better future. By using vivid imagery and juxtaposition, Hawthorne depicts Pearl as Hester’s happiness, light, and beauty during a sad and lonely time. While in Prison, Hester is all alone and depressed.

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731 Words | 3 Pages

What makes Pearl an important symbol is she is a living reminder of Hester’s transgression and Pearl’s wild, passionate nature. Excluded outside of society and sometimes thought to be the Devil’s child, she is “her mother’s only treasure…that no human sympathy could reach” and “rather an airy sprite” (pg. 61, 63). Having keen insight, she figures out what really happened between the characters before the adults find out. Because of this, she displays curious signs of recognition or defiance towards certain people she encounters. When the truth is finally revealed to the public, she is no longer a symbol but a normal human

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502 Words | 3 Pages

While reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is obvious that he uses a lot of symbolism throughout his writing to give the readers a deeper understanding of the Puritans and their views in these times. In this book, the community forces Hester Prynne to wear a scarlet letter on her chest to show her abashment for committing adultery and having a child, Pearl. However, Pearl is actually used as a symbol throughout this book to represent the physical embodiment of Hester’s sin, the repercussions of her breaking the law, and an unworldly being in the usual strict Puritan society. In the beginning of the book, Hawthorne uses Pearl as a way to constantly remind Hester of her sin and as a link between the secret relationship of Hester

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616 Words | 3 Pages

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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562 Words | 3 Pages

Pearl is the living embodiment of of the scarlet letter. Pearl constantly reminds Hester of her sins, without meaning to. Whenever she asks questions about Dimmesdale or about the scarlet letter, Hester is reminded of the things she did wrong. Pearl is very smart child, and she likes to ask questions and learn about things. If she sees something that confuses her, she will ask her mother about it.

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She cannot be defined by just one label, but both. She is a mother to Pearl, who is a child born from adultery. She is a caregiver, seamstress, a lover, and a counselor, but the Puritanical society Hester lives in constantly reminds her that she is just a whore. By subscribing to this label, Hester loses her identity in a way. The effect of being an outsider due to the letter causes her to become a shell of her former self.

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Later on, Pearl was being asked by Reverend Wilson and Reverend Dimmesdale where she came from because they were contemplating whether or not they should take Pearl away from Hester. Hawthorne explains, “... The child finally announced that she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison door” (Hawthorne 102). This quote proves that the wild rose bush is a constant symbol of imperfection. Pearl has been seen as a troubled child and very unnatural, but Hester loved her anyway, and that goes to show how the rose bush is imperfect since Pearl was plucked from it.

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Hawthorne uses symbolism throughout the Scarlet letter to display the sin and indecency people see Hester as. The detail represents ,the deep beauty Hester has inside although most people do not see her as a beutiful women. The deep red is a representation of adultery which shows her being an oncast from society. The symbol of the letter “A” is repetitive throughout the novel and grows with Hester and overcomes this with time as people start to see her as a person again and not just a adulterer. Hester acknowledges her sin in her puritan faith but swears to secrecy on the father of Pearl.

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748 Words | 3 Pages

This child is not meant to be a realistic character but rather a symbol of Hester’s sin, blessing and scarlet letter. Pearl is the scarlet letter, a blessing and curse, and the love and passion of a dangerous relationship. More than a child Pearl is a symbol of the love and passion between Hester and the minister. Pearl is a symbol that connect her parents forever even if they couldn’t be together. The narrator says, “God, as a direct consequence of the sin which man thus punished, had given her a lovely child, whose place was on that same dishonoured bosom, to connect her parent forever with the race and descent of mortals, and to be finally a blessed soul in heaven!”(86)

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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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The United States is the most diverse nation in the world. It is full of people from all over the world. The United States is made up of all different cultures and languages. In order to promote this diversity foreign language has begun to be taught in school throughout American society. Some main reasons that foreign language should be taught in schools are foreign language study creates a less prejudiced attitudes and behaviors toward people who are different, it enhances opportunities in life, and the United States needs to prepare for changes in American society with the increase in immigration.

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Pearl is a symbol of the scarlet letter. She was born due to adultery, which is the same reason as to why Hester wears the scarlet letter A. In chapter 7, Pearl is coincidentally put into a red tunic, “...arraying her in a crimson velvet tunic … and flourishes of gold-thread” (Hawthorne 92), which makes Hester realize that she is the human version of the scarlet letter. By Hester realizing this, it shows to the reader that Pearl can be a “sin” and a “blessing” all at the same time.

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509 Words | 3 Pages

“Pearl took some eelgrass, and … imitated, on her own bosom, the decoration… on her mother’s : A letter “A”, but freshly green, instead of scarlet!”, a quote pulled from Chapter 15, is another attempt by Hawthorne to convey the contrasting ideal of Pearl’s innocence and purity to Hester’s sin. The green of this imitated scarlet letter worn by Pearl is associated with nature and purity, while the scarlet of Hester’s original letter is typically associated with passion and

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For Ms. Sallie Thomas, a phlebotomist manager at Upper Valley Medical Center, she never knows exactly what each day will bring. Working in a hospital, especially the emergency room, there are wide ranges of people she will interact with and potentially collect blood from. Most of all, she believes that the patients come first. She has always held herself and her employees to the ethical codes of beneficence, nonmaleficence, and fidelity. However, like in all health care practice, there are challenges she faces.

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