What Does The Rosebush Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

Do you believe you have a good and evil side? Hawthorne is the author of the novel The Scarlet Letter. His novel took place in the 16600s and was published in the 1800s. Hawthorne is a master of using symbolism, there’s thought and meaning behind every word he says. The symbols he used in this novel are meant to be interpreted as one thing but mean another. By using these symbols Hawthorne wants to teach us, readers, that words have deeper meanings than what they come across as. He wants us to know good and evil can take place in one spot. The main character in this story is Hester Prynne, who is a protagonist and has committed the awful sin of adultery. As a punishment for her sin, she now wears a scarlet letter “A” on her chest which stands

In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses the Rose Bush, Hester Prynne, and Hester’s Cabin to prove it is natural for good and evil to co-exist in balance.

To begin, Hawthorne uses the Wild Rosebush to show that it is natural for good and evil to coexist. At the beginning of The Scarlet Letter, the reader is immediately introduced to this Rosebush. We are told that this Rosebush is placed outside the prison where Hester Prynne is living. This Rosebush symbolizes pain and beauty. The top of the flower is this bright beautiful scarlet rose then there's this dark stem filled with thorns. The beautiful rose represents good and the thorns represent evil. The Rosebush is one object that has both good and evil in its whole. This is an example of Hawthorne showing good and evil coexisting in nature. Hawthorne narrates, “This rosebush, by strange chance, has been kept alive in history; but whatever it has merely survived out of the stern of wilderness, so long after the fall of the gigantic pines and oaks that originally overshadowed it'' (Hawthorne 46). When Hawthorne says “by strange chance, has been kept alive in history” he is referring to Hester and how Hester was used as an explanation of what not to be to the town. Her name is used in

As we know Hester Prynne is a beautiful woman who has sinned. This sin is adultery. For committing this sin she has been publicly humiliated and forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest. In Greek Hester means star, Hester is a star in her community. Atoning for her sin and doing what she needs to do for the community. The model puritan. This part of her name stands and shows her good. Prynne comes from the name William Prynne who is a man that is very against the puritan church. This part of Hester's name shows her evil. When Hawthorne narrates, “such helpfulness was found in her-so much power to do and power to sympathize-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet “A” by its original significance” (Hawthorne 158). This quote shows the good side of Hester. She's this helpful woman in the community who helps the poor and sick. Many people believed the “A” stood for adultery. Eventually, many people refused that the “A” stood for adultery and rather believed it stood for able. Hester was able to help, she was able to be good. Then when Hawthrone narrates, “Thus, Hester Prynee, whose heart has lost its regular healthy throb, wandered without a clew in the dark labyrinth of mind; now turned aside by an insurmountable precipice; now starting back from a deep chasm. There was wild and ghastly scenery all around her, and a hoe and comfort nowhere” (Hawthorne