ipl-logo

Scarlet Letter Forest Symbolism

945 Words4 Pages

In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the symbolism that has been shown in the book represents something more than one can imagine or even greater. The forest plays a pre-dominate role in the plot where it brings out a deeper understanding and shows symbolism. Each of the characters can relate to the forest in different ways thus, bringing their emotions and feelings the character experiences. For some people, the forest may be considered an outskirt and a place of wrong doing, but for others, it is a place where they can be themselves. All in all, the forest shows symbolism that greatly impacts the characters throughout the story. To one of the main characters, Pearl, the forest is symbolized to be her only friend. Through the whole book, Pearl and her mother, Hester was disgraced and considered outcasts among the townspeople due to the scarlet letter that Hester bears on her breast every single day. “The woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die (46)”. With the taunts and disgraceful remarks that the townspeople make everyday, Pearl cannot live a normal life and make any friends due to her mother’s scar. However, when Pearl enters the forest, the forest greets her as one of her friends. “A partridge, indeed, with a brood of ten behind her, ran forward threateningly, but soon repented of her fierceness, and clucked to her young ones not be afraid. A pigeon, …show more content…

The forest is one of the most symbolized objects in the entire story. There are things that can bring grief, unhappiness, joy, and even freedom, but the forest always brings out the truth. Walking in the forest, lies no longer exists and only the truth remains. This is clearly shown in the examples that are given where the truth always come out in the forest. This includes, Pearl and the sunlight in the forest. All in all, these are some symbolisms that are shown in this

Show More
Related

  • Scarlet Letter Brook Quotes

    524 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is made clear early in the novel that Pearl is the symbol of Hester and Dimmesdale's conscience. This symbol is the key to understanding the meaning of the brook. As chapter fourteen begins, we find Pearl playing in the brook while Chillingworth tells Hester how the townspeople wish to remove her scarlet letter.

    Read More

  • Symbolism Of The Woods Illustrated In Anthem And The Hunger Games

    1572 Words  | 7 Pages

    In reality, the woods symbolize danger. However, in literature the wild is a symbol of a safe place and freedom. It allows characters to do what best for themselves and get away from the government that controls every aspect of their lives. When the government takes over, society morphs into the wild and the wilderness becomes a safe haven. In the stories Anthem and The Hunger Games, characters use the woods to escape brutal law enforcement, as a place to find love, and a place for a fresh start.

    Read More

  • Pearl Symbolism In Scarlet Letter

    502 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pearl’s estranged behavior is believed to be a result of the way she was conceived through sin, which is just another example of how Pearl is the physical representation and constant reminder of Hester’s sin. Towards the end of the book, Pearl is finally allowed to be a real human being once Dimmesdale confesses his sin. In Chapter 23, Hawthorne writes, “The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy…” (Hawthorne 142).

    Read More

  • Day And Night Motifs In The Scarlet Letter

    1184 Words  | 5 Pages

    Cassandra Abbarno Mrs. Melissa Lyons AP Lit 29 October 2015 The Scarlet Letter RRJ Chapters 11-13 In chapters 11-13 of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne focuses on just a few of the many motifs involved in the novel. The Day/Night motif as well as the Evocative names play an important role in the part of the book. If we recall just chapter 12 alone, “The Minister's Vigil”, we see Day vs Night play out in front of us.

    Read More

  • The Forest In The Scarlet Letter Quotes

    786 Words  | 4 Pages

    However, when Dimmesdale returns to the town, he starts to wonder what the people around him will think if they find out he committed adultery with Hester. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the forest is a symbol for freedom, the unknown, and discovery.

    Read More

  • Figurative Language In The Poisonwood Bible

    467 Words  | 2 Pages

    The theme that the author is portraying, is that sometimes in life it's hard to do things that seem impossible, but we as humans can do anything if we put our minds to it. The figurative language that was present within the book was incredible. As a result, my options were limited. The first figurative language that symbolizes the importance of a forest was described, “This forest eats itself and lives forever” (5). This particular quote gave non living things, humans characteristics.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Determinism In The Crucible

    1046 Words  | 5 Pages

    The symbols are used to explore the demonization of characters, and even inanimate objects, which do not comply with the societal stereotypes of the deterministic and authoritarian setting. Such demonization and fear of the “other” is prevalent in modern society with respect to conflict regarding equality. Miller displays this when he uses prose to describe the forest as “the last place on Earth that was not paying homage to God” (Pg. 15), and again when he uses dialogue of Parris to comment that “abominations are done in the forest” (Pg. 19). Thus, Miller demonizes the forest as many people have demonized difference throughout history, in this context owing to the inability of Christians to convert the Indians. Therefore, highlighting the extent to which difference was feared in the play.

    Read More

  • The Symbolic Pearl In The Scarlet Letter

    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)

    Read More

  • The Symbolism Of Forest In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    351 Words  | 2 Pages

    One example of the symbol of the forest applying to the concept of individuality is when toward the end of the novella, the main character,

    Read More

  • The Theme Of The Damned In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    624 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Equality defies the Council and enters the forest, he begins to realize he is his own person. He sees how wrong the society he was living in was. I think for our society the Uncharted Forest would represent innovative thinking that people haven't

    Read More

  • What Is The Scaffold Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

    426 Words  | 2 Pages

    Symbolism is a great literary device used to enhance a piece of writing by taking a particular object and giving it an entirely different meaning that is much more significant than what the object actually is. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, written in 1850, the author uses many symbols throughout the book to reflect Dark Romantic themes and conflicts and to show the Puritan way of life. Three important symbols that Hawthorne refers to repeatedly throughout the book are the scaffold, the scarlet letter, and Pearl, being a child of nature. Scaffolds in a Puritan society were used to publically embarrass sinners and criminals. This was first seen in The Scarlet Letter in Chapters 1-3 when the protagonist Hester Prynne stood on the scaffold before the people of the Puritan society.

    Read More

  • How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Nature In The Scarlet Letter

    468 Words  | 2 Pages

    Naturally Dreadful Nature is the basic characteristic into which something or someone is naturally presented. These characteristics are used in this novel as the scars into which no one is able to escape. Nature in The Scarlet Letter was used as a representation of many ideas and beliefs the puritan society tried to suppress. These representations came throughout the development of the novel as Hester’s escapement and can even be argued that Hawthorne used nature to show the violent and demonic sides of the puritan’s angst. As the story begins, the tension between the colonist and the unknown adulterer grow with the signs of mockery.

    Read More

  • Reading Response To Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

    1146 Words  | 5 Pages

    This effects her every day life going out in public and getting ridiculed by all the towns people she is surrounded by. Hester Prynne doesn’t just have to live with a mistake right on her shirt, but people also help her remember past. She does have her daughter or her “sole treasure.” The young girls name is pearl and she is not exactly like the others. It isn't easy because her and her mother are considered different in the community so she is lonely but very

    Read More

  • Symbolism Of Pearl In Scarlet Letter

    744 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is quite obvious in Nathaniel Hawthorne 's The Scarlet Letter that Pearl, Hester Prynne 's daughter, plays a major role. Not only is she one of the main characters, but she is prevalent theme in the novel, as well. Pearl is not written like a regular character. Most of the other symbols in the story, such as the scarlet letter or the rose bush, lead back to Pearl. Pearl takes on many symbols and serves great purpose.

    Read More

  • Who Is Hawthorne's Criticism Of The Woods In The Scarlet Letter

    1145 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nathaniel Hawthorne is known for his criticism of the Puritan society in almost all of his works of literature. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, it seems as if Hawthorne has addressed Puritans immorally. In the novel,  Hawthorne uses nature as a vehicle for change of the  main characters in order to show the Puritan’s fear of adapting to a new society; however, when the Puritans stepped onto virgin soil, a change in their lifestyle was necessary in order to assimilate into the new world: the United States of America. Hawthorne uses the woodlands as a place of change for the main characters, though the Puritans in the novel are fearful of the woods. Hawthorne’s utilization of the woods hints to an underlying message of the Puritan’s fear of

    Read More

More about Scarlet Letter Forest Symbolism

Open Document