The Corruption Of The Forest In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, almost everything holds a purpose or a deeper, symbolic message. Hawthorne’s affluent use of literary devices are present throughout the entirety of the text, specifically, his ability to create distinct tones intended to illustrate his message. Through the use of these tones, Hawthorne creates a contrast between the corruption of humanity in Puritan society and the honest purity as seen in nature. Hawthorne draws upon ideas from Romanticism, such as nature and children representing the truth. Using this idea in the novel, he shows how the location of the forest is representative of nature which causes characters to be immersed in truth, showing their true selves. In a similar manner, he uses the scaffold to demonstrate humanity’s …show more content…
By emphasizing romantic ideals, Hawthorne is able to clearly express how the tone of the forest is shown in Pearl, as both represent the same ideas of truth to the Romantics. The tone of the forest is shown throughout the entirety of the time present there. It also shows the forest’s purity because it is hidden, insusceptible to humanity’s reach. Hawthorne directly states to the reader that the wild nature of the forest had never been, “subjugated by human law” (Hawthorne 177). Not only does he state that “human law” has not corrupted the forest, he follows by adding that the forest is neither, “illuminated by a higher power” (177). Hawthorne’s declaration designates the tone and overall atmosphere of the forest as free and honest. This prevails since Hawthorne shows the absence of human corruption or heavenly presence, stating that the only presence there is love. In following the Romantic’s principles, children represent truth. Because Hawthorne writes with Romantic principles, Pearl is able to flourish in the forest because she is the embodiment of honesty, and was also born of a sin of passion. Hawthorne shows her purity as calling her, “untempered light”,
Comparing Scarlet Letter, The Ministers Black Veil, And The Birthmark
615 Words | 3 PagesChris Ocampo Period 4A October 18,2015 Character Analysis/symbolism/Theme Identification-Analysis Essay Nathaniel Hawthorne’s use of symbolic commentary and conventional themes in The Scarlet Letter, The Ministers Black Veil, and The Birthmark, characterizes sin and judgment as deformations within us all. Within each of Hawthorne’s’ works sin reflects internal and exposed sins, as well in people’s flaws. However, there deformations expand further than the objects that they wear. All of the major symbols and themes in Hawthorns selected works embody Alienation. Hester Prynne, Aylmer, and Mr. Hooper are linked to the ambiguity of Puritan morals.
Third Year Questions For The Scarlet Letter
894 Words | 4 PagesHow does it change the reader’s view of the prison? 4. Many times Pearl is portrayed as innocent and full of light. Why does Hawthorne then describe her as witch-like and how does this relate to the theme of the human tendency to transgress?
Symbolism And Vivid Imagery In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
1931 Words | 8 PagesHe discusses Hester's daughter, Pearl, and how the fall of Hester would also affect Pearl's livelihood. Hawthorne explains, “often impelled Hester to ask, in bitterness of heart, whether it were for ill or good that the poor little creature had been born at all.” Hesters admittance of the fact that she has contemplated whether or not Pearl deserves to be alive signifies Hawthorne's use of a complex tone. Within the statement, he shows how Hester is recognizing that the life she has brought Pearl up in is not ideal. Out of the sorrow in her heart that she has for Pearl, Hester realizes that her daughter may have been better off never being born, as Hester has lost the abilities that she once had to be a loving mother.
Symbolism In Their Eyes Were Watching God
1819 Words | 8 PagesSo throughout this paper the symbolism of nature and its effects on the characters will be discussed. Janie mesmerized by the beautiful tree growing in Nanny’s backyard. Climbs the tree to sit in the branches soon realizes what true love means when witnessing of the bees to the blossoms of the pear tree. “She was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in the alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the panting breath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came to her. She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the
What Does The Rosebush Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter
503 Words | 3 PagesRosebush/Symbol- One example of symbolism in the Scarlet Letter is the rosebush where Hawthorne says “Finding it so directly on the threshold of our narrative”. I think that the rosebush represents the past and when the crimes in the colony weren’t as severe. The rosebush’s colors are the joy that the town experienced back before all of the adultery and major crimes had been committed. Hawthorne chose the rosebush because the rosebush also has thorns that go along with the beautiful petals, which represent how there are always bad things that will happen and those are inevitable.
The Theme Of Serpent In Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown
437 Words | 2 PagesFurthermore, I noticed the way Hawthorne described the road in the forest. He uses descriptive words in order to create a visual of the forest. In page 1 it says, “He taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest...narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind.” The descriptive words the author establishes makes readers visualize the forest.
Mistakes And Guilty In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
480 Words | 2 PagesThe narrator even explains that Pearl was “her mother’s only treasure”(Hawthorne, 111). Yet, even though Pearl was her mother’s treasure, she was the townspeople’s annoyance. Pearl had done nothing, but others will judge your family’s character based on you. Pearl was teased tremendously! Governor Bellingham even said “There used to be a swarm of these small apparitions in holiday time, and we called them children of the Lord of Misrule.
Urban Rage In Bronzeville Analysis
1627 Words | 7 PagesAnd his two good girls and his good little man Oakened as they grew. The first of dual implications of “oaken” initially delineates only the racial classification of Reed and his “dark” family, yet by stanza five a second concept is evident (376). The innate qualities of the oak tree--the strength, endurance, and perseverance in the face of adversity--characterized Reed, who announces that he will “fight” for his home when he finds it (377).
Guilt And Symbolism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
494 Words | 2 PagesThe Scarlet Letter Symbolism Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the book The Scarlet Letter that took place in the puritan age in the 1800´s, he´s a anti-transcentist who believes deep down humans are messed up and mostly dark and sin, sickness, and evil beings. Hester Prynne, the mother of Pearl and the protagonists of this story, and is forced to wear the scarlet letter ¨A¨ on the dresses for the rest of her life because she committed adultery with Minister Dimmesdale. Hester went through pain, and humility feeling guilty for committing such a sin. Minister Dimmesdale the other sinner who had sex with Hester and kept it to himself keeping the secret from the town, led him to a deadly guilt residing in him and father of Pearl called the ¨Demon child and the…... ¨, In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbolism of the Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale, and Hester to contribute to the overall theme of guilt.
How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Biblical Allusions In The Scarlet Letter
1458 Words | 6 PagesHowever, he also uses these allusions to create a new side to his narrative as evident when he describes Hester’s resilience, and to create a new element in the plot as evident in his description of Dimmesdale’s penance and need for redemption. Therefore, Hawthorne demonstrates an effective use of allusions to craft a religious and detailed narrative for The Scarlet Letter by reviewing on parallels between the Bible and the novel’s main characters. There’s more to The Scarlet Letter than these allusions though, and there are many questions to answer about this book. These questions may never be answered fully, but by reading the novel itself, we might find the right places to start searching for answers and formulate our own opinions on the matter. What’s important from this novel is the realistic warning about what might happens when an individual place themselves too highly among others, a message Hawthorne writes to warn against the fervor of transcendentalism of his time.
Hester Prynne Symbolism In Scarlet Letter
665 Words | 3 PagesThe reader more evidently notices that Hawthorne carefully, and sometimes not subtly at all, places Pearl above the rest. She wears colorful clothes, which can be seen as a symbol of the scarlet letter, is extremely smart, pretty, and nice. He also shows her intelligence and free thought. One of Pearl's favorite activities is playing with flowers and trees. " And she was gentler here [the forest] than in the grassy- margined streets of the settlement, or in her mother's cottage.
Research Paper On Nathaniel Hawthorne's Understanding Of Human Nature
268 Words | 2 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne’s understanding of the human nature is incredibly faulty. His understanding of the human nature corresponds closely with his symbolism of the forest. Contrasting the children of the Puritans with Pearl, there are several examples that fit within the topic of human nature. Hawthorne contrasts the forests with society. The Puritan children are the children of society and Pearl is the child of the forest.
Language In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
1303 Words | 6 PagesSpecifically, the mentions of the changing of the garden from flourished with shrubs and tress to overturned with abandonment. These images of decay perfectly represent the attempt to replicate an English garden on the soil of New England. Readers see Hawthorne’s use of personification throughout his descriptions of nature by bringing lifelike qualities and appearances to their
Theme Of Chaos In A Midsummer Night's Dream
994 Words | 4 PagesThe forest represents the natural world. The forest renders a safe space for the characters but in reality both danger and desire lies in the woods. The characters associate freedom with being outside of the city. For example, the Athenian workers rehearse their play in the woods in order to escape distractions. The character Quince, who is an Athenian performing in the play, says, “There will we rehearse, for if we meet in the city we shall be dogged with company, and our devices known.”
Gothic Elements In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'
1284 Words | 6 PagesIn The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne effectively conforms to the conventions of the gothic genre for the purpose of characterizing the Puritan society as oppressive, portraying the hypocrisy found within the society and highlighting the consequences for not confessing
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