Scarlet Letter Symbols :: essays research papers

Nathaniel Hawthorne uses many symbols to add meaning to his novel, The florid Letter. This novel was written in 1850 by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This novel is classified as a romance due to the events that happen through start the harbor. The book takes place in 1640s Boston. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses many symbols to give the book strength and mogul over the reader. Two symbols that Hawthorne uses are the rosebush, and Pearl. These two symbols help in the divine revelation of the story, from beginning to end.     Hester is kept in the prison due to her sin of adultery that she has committed. As she walks herself from the prison doors to the scaffold, the readers become acquainted with the rose-bush . This rose bush is express to be kept alive with history. Hawthorne says how he plucks one of the rose-bush flowers and presents it to the reader. "It may serve, allow us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom, that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close narrative of human frailty and ruefulness." (p. 46) When Hawthorne shows the reader the rose bloom, he point out that beauty comes with a price, unless similarly it is next to the prison door. The rose-bush symbolizes the pain in the neck and joy that come through Hesters sin.           One of the most painful yet most important thing to Hester is Pearl. Pearl is also a really important symbol though the story. She is Hesters pride and joy that leads her through the day., but also her full time reminder of the sin she has committed.      "Therefore it is unplayful for this poor, sinful woman that she hath an infant      immortality, a being capable of never-failing joy or sorrow, confided to her care,-to at      ever moment, of her fall,-but yet to teach her, as it were by the Creators sacred      pledge, that if she bring the c hild to heaven, that child will also bring the parent      thither"(p.105)Here Mr. Dimmesdale explains how Pearl, is the eternal joy and sorrow of Hesters life. Also how Pearl can save her mothers soul, if Hester can save Pearls first. Hawthorne says at the end of the story that Pearl grew up and took her mothers sin into consideration in her life, and grew up to have a happy family.