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Symbolism in the Scarlet Letter

Summary:   The first and perhaps the most obvious use of symbolism by Nathaniel Hawthorne in the novel follows the progression of meaning of the letter "A" that Hester is forced to wear on her chest. From the beginning the "A" is a recognized symbol of adultery. There "on the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread..." lies evidence of her sin and impurity for all to see. Though she is forced to wear it she, throughout the book will continue her life and attempt to allow other people to see her as someone other than the label that lies so clearly on her chest.

In the novel "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne symbolism is used to represent the evolution of the characters primarily that of Hester Prynne. Two of these symbols as they are used repeatedly create underlying truths telling their own story of growth and understanding as sunshine and the letter "A" bring to light who Hester Prynne truly is.

The first and perhaps the most obvious use of symbolism in the novel follows the progression of meaning of the letter "A" that Hester is forced to wear on her chest. From the beginning the "A" is a recognized symbol of adultery. There "on the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread..." lies evidence of her sin and impurity for all to see. Though she is forced to wear it she, throughout the book will continue her life and attempt to allow other people to see her as someone other than the label that lies so clearly on her chest.

Hester begins to serve the sick, poor and troubled by charitably offering her time to attend to their needs. The townspeople, who before were quick to judge her, began to respect her. Hawthorne describes the evolution of Hester as able by saying, "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 signification. They said it meant Able..." Hester refused to give in and allow her personality to always reflect that of an adulterer but of someone who indeed was worthy of respect and affection. This progression of meaning adds a great deal of significance to the novel by suggesting that one should not always be judged by their appearance as Hester is with the scarlet letter embroidered on her clothing, but should be viewed based on encounters and actual perceptions rather than initial judgments.

Again near the end of the novel Hawthorne continues to further portray Hester as an able- bodied human being rather than the adulteress she is originally seen as by the townspeople. The letter further develops its meaning and creates a new importance even stronger than the significance before. Hester begins to find her true self before the scar of the letter was placed onto her clothing and to her esteem continues to change along with the meaning of the "A" that adorns her clothing. Hester realizes then that, "the angel and apostle of the coming must be a woman, indeed, but lofty pure and beautiful, and wise moreover, not through dusky grief, but the ethereal medium of joy" as she "glanced her eyes downward at the scarlet letter. And after many years a new grave was delved after a sunken one..." Yet again we see that the letter further changes its meaning and proves to be not a shameful one, but one that allows her to see herself as a positive influence in the community again.

Hawthorne also uses the sunshine as a predominant symbol in the novel. He uses it to represent purity and hope numerous times throughout the novel. In one part of the novel Pearl asks her mother to grab sunshine for her and give it to her to play with. Hester replies "no, my little Pearl! Thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee." Here Hawthorne is suggesting that Hester has no sunshine to give her daughter Pearl because she has committed adultery and therefore not pure or worthy of the sun representing this purity and innocence that she has lost because of the sin that she has committed.

Later Hester and Pearl are walking through the forest and a dark cloud comes over the sky. Pearl notices this and says, "Mother, the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom." Pearl is beginning to recognize the severity of the "A" her mother wears on her breast In her childlike innocence she makes a very mature observation that sunshine, pure and a symbol of hope, represents something contrary to the delicately embroidered "A" on Hester's breast. Further along on the same walk Hester instructs Pearl to go off and catch the sun. Pearl takes off running and suddenly finds herself standing amidst a patch of sunshine. As Hester catches up with little Pearl, Pearl tells her mother, "It will go now" speaking of the sunshine. Hester replies, "See! Now I can stretch my hand out and grasp some of it", but "As she attempted to do so, the sunshine vanished." The sun here is highlighting Pearl's innocence as well as Hester's impurities. Hawthorne again clearly suggests that the sun is something only the pure are allowed to bask in and that it is something Hester, which until innocent again, will not be allowed to partake.

Hawthorne as he continues to develop this symbol only makes it more apparent by naming a chapter "A Flood of Sunshine" It is in this chapter the climax of the symbolism of the sunshine comes through. In this chapter Dimmesdale and Hester are discussing the future of their secret relationship. Dimmesdale tells Hester that he has decided to leave the community and that he will go alone. Hester declares that he will not have to do so. In this moment she rips the Scarlet Letter from her chest and throws down her bonnet. Hawthorne vividly describes this moment: "as the gloom of the earth and sky has been but effluence of these two mortal hearts; it vanished with their sorrow. All at once, as with a sudden smile from heaven, bust forth the sunshine, pouring a very flood into the obscure forest gladdening each green leaf." At the very moment that the "A" is cast off so are her impurities thus allowing the sun to burst through the forest and illuminate the beauty that surrounds her and resides in her. Hester's allowance of sunshine washes away the guild and sin and with that she is pure and full of hope once again. The sun no longer ran from her but shone all about her. In this moment the symbol of the sunshine reaches its ultimate significance.

A great deal of this novel is about the evolution of symbols and the characters that are affected by their meaning. Hester being the primary focus of the novel encounters these symbols and realizes for herself that she can overcome these initial judgments, though difficult, and again regain her status in the community as a character capable of improving the quality of life and not just a blemish on the community. As the symbol of the "A" evolves and the use of the sunshine as a representation of purity continues to show so does the character of Hester. Finally in the conclusion of the novel she comes to realize that this physical representation of her sin is simply just that, a bodily symbol to be overcome. Her defiance of the scarlet letter "A" is embodied by the physical tearing of it from her garments, which allows her to again enjoy the sun that shines upon those deserving of it.