Symbols In The Scarlet Letter Essay
This essay will discuss how the symbol “A” or the Scarlet Letter is represented in three different interpretations in the novel. In the novel The Scarlet Letter the letter “A” was originally intended to be a punishment for the main character Hester Prynne. She committed adultery as was branded with the “A” as public humiliation. Although she was branded as an adulteress, she continued to help others. Her good deeds toward others changed the letter “A” from Adulteress to Able as she was able to assist others. She continued to help others and began to feel good about herself. Finally, after an “A” appeared in the night sky, the townspeople believed they had witnessed an act of divine intervention and labeled the “A” as an Angel. The first …show more content…
Hester starts helping the poor in her community. Her kindness and compassion towards other convince people to believe that the “A” stands for Able. A stranger says “It is our Hester, - the towns own Hester, - who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted.” (Ch.13 Pg.134) The final interpretation of the letter “A” is that of an Angel. One evening a light gleaned far and wide over the evening sky. In that light from a meteor that form a large and clearly visible red “A” across the sky. These meteoric appearances in those day were often viewed as acts of divine intervention. The old sexton smiling asked the minister “But did your reverence hear of the portent that was seen last night? A great red letter in the sky, - the letter A, - which we interpret to stand for Angel. For as our good Governor Winthrop was made an angel this pas night, it was doubtless held fit that there should be some notice thereof!” (Ch.12 Pg.131) As you can see that the Scarlet Letter “A” has three different interpretations. It can be viewed as a punishment, public humiliation. It can also be seen as Able, as someone who is willing and able to help others. Finally, the red letter A can be seen as to signify Angel, as an act of divine intervention drew a red A across the night
Hester Prynne Shame Quotes
1140 Words | 5 PagesHester's divine beauty outshines others corrupt beliefs of her. While Hester walks stumbles out the prison doors and onto the dreaded scaffold, Hawthorne describes Hester as "the young woman [who] was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance, on a large scale" (40). Hester Prynne is being publicly shamed for the act of adultery she committed along with the minister who condemns her. She is forced to stand on the scaffold and beat the sorrow of he sins with the scarlet letter "A" on her bosom to represent her shameful acts. This mark of embarrassment serves a purpose to make her appear unrighteous, but the author chooses to focus on her beauty, which outshines this emblem.
Dialectical Journal For The Scarlet Letter
1928 Words | 8 Pagesthey would say to strangers. ‘It is our Hester, the town’s own Hester, who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick…”(147) Through her benevolent deeds over the years, Hester had managed to merge herself into the society that once scorned her. They no longer speaks badly of her, but would instead brag about her kind and caring nature to strangers. The most obvious change in their perception of Hester also lies in the reinterpretation of the letter “A” on her chest, which would now signify Able, resembling the strength of her heart.
What Does Pearl A Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter
452 Words | 2 PagesThroughout the book The Scarlet Letter, there are many cases of symbolism. One of the most prominent ones is the scarlet A on Hesters chest. The A was a symbol for adultery. Pearl was a symbol of the sin that Hester committed. Pearl is also a symbol of the sun between Hester and whatever his face is.
The Glass Castle And The Raisin In The Sun
769 Words | 4 PagesIn The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is seen as a disgrace for the town. The “A” on Hester’s chest forces her to feel like she has no independence, since she is not seen like a typical person; she does not feel like she
Separate Spheres
892 Words | 4 PagesShe was so strong and powerful she changed the symbol of iniquity itself. It was the “helpfulness found in [Hester]- so much power to do and power to sympathize- that many people refused to interpret the scarlet ‘A’ by its original signification. They said that it meant ‘Able;’ so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (Hawthorne 152). The scarlet letter was a mark of adultery meant to bring shame and guilt upon those who bore it. Hester lived her life with strength even under the weight of the public eye, that she altered the view of the scarlet letter.
Scarlet Letter Symbolism
1322 Words | 6 PagesThe scarlet letter has different meanings throughout the story and to each of the characters. The original meaning of the scarlet “A” is “Adultery”, but later in the story the townspeople and other characters begin to interpret it in different ways, each of them with their own idea and belief. Hester starts being more active in society and that makes the townspeople think differently about the scarlet “A”. The scarlet letter doesn´t keep the same meaning throughout the whole story, it changes with Hester´s actions and the Puritans beliefs. Hester starts being more active in society, she starts helping the poor and nursing the sick.
The Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis
1014 Words | 5 PagesHester has to wear a letter A on her chest for her punishment of adultery. In The Scarlet Letter, the meaning and significance of the letter A is altered as the novel goes on. Hester, the townspeople, and Pearl all have views of the letter that change. Through their views of the letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author, reveals what his view on the letter is. Hester’s view of
Hester Prynne And John Proctor Analysis
705 Words | 3 PagesThe scarlet letter ‘A’ did not stand for “adultery” anymore. It stood for “able.” “The letter was the symbol of her calling. 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 that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength.”
Analysis Of Hester Prynne In The Scarlet Letter
896 Words | 4 PagesBy wearing the “A,” Hester was publicly humiliated, however, her development in character causes a change in the meaning of the Scarlet Letter, which leads her to taking pride in the letter as it grows a part of her. After Hester’s sin the Puritan community places a false
Abel Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter
1358 Words | 6 Pages1 / 5 1. At First the Scarlett letter "A" Symbolized Adultery. Adultery was at that time considered to be sinful and a crime at that time. We first saw what A symbolized when Hester was publicly humiliated for committing adultery and had to stand on the scaffold and wear the letter "A" on her chest.
What Does The Deep Red Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter
940 Words | 4 PagesHawthorne uses symbolism throughout the Scarlet letter to display the sin and indecency people see Hester as. The detail represents ,the deep beauty Hester has inside although most people do not see her as a beutiful women. The deep red is a representation of adultery which shows her being an oncast from society. The symbol of the letter “A” is repetitive throughout the novel and grows with Hester and overcomes this with time as people start to see her as a person again and not just a adulterer. Hester acknowledges her sin in her puritan faith but swears to secrecy on the father of Pearl.
Essay On Evil In The Scarlet Letter
719 Words | 3 PagesEven though the Puritans may have designated the letter as a representation of sin, Hester’s renewed sense of pride does not want society to define the A for her. Rather Hester wants to define it herself and by doing so she develops responsibility and power over her own actions. Because Hester has the power to change who she is, she also has the power to change what the Scarlet Letter represents. By letting the letter be “embroidered with gold thread” readers are able to see how for Hester sin is not something to be fearful of; furthermore, it allows one to see how Hester has developed into an independent individual who accepts who she is and the situation she is presented with. Hester’s lover unfortunately
Meaning Of Letter A In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
1289 Words | 6 PagesFrom the beginning of The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne and her letter “A” emerged at the scaffold in public for adultery, which is a sin could not be forgive by their religion.” This is a description of the letter “A” that only belongs to Hester Prynne. Why said this is “only belongs to her”? If readers have a deep reading to The Scarlet Letter, they could easily find out the sin that is up to everyone’s inner aspect and it has a different symbolic meaning, which is mentioned at above text: “A” changes Adultery to Able and Angel. But, how does the letter “A” direct the other characters to
The Symbolism Of 'A' In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
959 Words | 4 Pages‘“But did your reverence hear of the portent that was seen last night? —a great red letter in the sky.—the letter A, which we interpret to stand for Angel. For as our good Governor Winthrop was made an angel this past night’” (Hawthorne 164). While the community usually had the “A” be a symbol of horrid things, they did change their meaning over time. In the beginning of the story, the community viewed the “A” solely as standing for adultery and Hester’s sin (Hawthorne 56).
Theme Of Adultery In The Scarlet Letter
813 Words | 4 Pages“On the field, sable, the letter A, gules.”(261). This shows that on their tombstone that they share there is a letter “A”. The reader can infer that this “A” could mean Angel for now finally they are both free of the sin and are now a Angel in heaven. Another reason why the reader can infer that the scarlet letter now means angel is because when Hester and Dimmesdale were first standing together one the scaffold trying to make Dimmesdale 's guilt go away the townspeople said the “A” in the sky meant angel. Then at the end when they are buried next to each other everyone knows Dimmesdale 's sin and they can both live guilt free as an angel which is why there is a letter “A” on the tombstone.
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