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Symbolism - The Scarlet Letter

2 Pages 558 Words June 2015

In the novel, "The Scarlet Letter," by Nathaniel Hawthorne, symbolism is heavily used. Hawthorne's purpose of symbolism in the novel presents a complex view of sin. The main symbols used in expressing Hawthorne's message are colors, sunlight, and shadows.
The use of the colors in, "The Scarlet Letter," are conclusive symbols in the plot. "The door of the jail being flung open from within the appeared, in the first place, like a black shadow emerging into sunshine," (Hawthorne, 150). The color black represents sin and the devil. Dimmesdale is a serious sinner for not accepting his sin. "It is inconceivable, the agony with which this public veneration tortured him!.. or the dimmest of all shadows," (Hawthorne, 139). Dimmesdale is suffering by living as a saint, but having a deep dark sin which he can not confess. Chillingworth is known as the, "black man," as stated by Pearl, because he possesses the hypothetical sin. The title of the, "black man," is referred to the devil himself. Darkness is well known as a negative overtone and Hawthorne values it exclusively. The color red is the symbol of honestly. Pearl is suffering from the sin, but is not a sinner herself; Pearl is honest. The scarlet-red letter, "A," is worn for the guilt of sin, and therefore a metaphor of truth. Hester wears gray as a symbol of being honest. Hester has acknowledged her sin of adultery, but still owns sin in the form of fraud towards Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Before Hester opens up to Dimmesdale and the village, she will not be in control of her sin. Hawthorne uses color to reveal that hiding the truth is unpleasant, and causes torture with time.
Hawthorne uses sunshine to symbolize honestly, and purity, while using shadows to symbolize sin. Pearl is in the sunlight. Pearl's honest makes her flawless, and preserves her from sin. Hester is seen in the shadows, because she is upset by the red letter, and her ongoing sin of dishonestly. "Mother... the sunshi...

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