The Scarlet Letter Symbolism
The Symbolism of the Scarlet “A” in The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne gives a symbolic meaning to the scarlet “A” in The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne’s main character, Hester, wears the scarlet “A”, because the citizens of Boston, Massachusetts find out she is pregnant from a man that is not her husband. The citizens know the baby is not from her husband, because her husband has been at sea for several months, and in the meantime she has gotten pregnant. Hawthorne changes the meaning of the scarlet “A” throughout the novel. Although some people might think the scarlet “A” only stands for adulterer, it stands for both adulterer and able.
In the first few chapters, the scarlet “A” only stands for adulterer. The scarlet “A” creates torture
…show more content…
Hester is full of strength and hard work “As Hester Prynne builds a new life, her hard work and charity end up altering the letter’s meaning.” Hester is the person who changes the meaning of the letter. She does not let the letter “A” define her as something she is not. Hester ends up being a very helpful person in The Scarlet Letter and Hawthorne tells us that “The letter was a 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 significance” (146). People later realize that Hester has changed and become a wonderful woman who loves to help. The citizens do not even recognize the letter as its old significance, which is adulterer. Even the people who do not know Hester think that the letter on her breast symbolizes importance. In the article, Symbols: The Scarlet Letter, “...the Native Americans who come to watch the Election day pageant thank it marks her as a person of importance and status” (Sparknotes). The Native Americans who did not know Hester thought she was of great status because of her hard working abilities and the letter on her chest. The scarlet “A” dramatically shifts from a meaning of bad to a meaning of
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
Essay About The Mistakes Hester Prynne Ever Made
599 Words | 3 PagesIn the beginning the scarlet letter represented adultery and shame, but then the A represented “able.” Hester Prynne showed people that greatness can come out of huge mistake. One bad chapter does not mean your story is over. Willingly, Hester wanted to pick herself up again and move on with her life and eventually people noticed that. They began to respect her and think of her as strong and commendable
Hester Prynne Symbolism In Scarlet Letter
665 Words | 3 PagesShe is a beautiful, young woman who has sinned, but is forgiven. Hawthorne portrays Hester as "divine maternity" and she can do no wrong. Not only Hester, but also the physical scarlet letter, a sign of shame, is shown as a beautiful, gold and colorful piece which
Scarlet Letter Symbolism
1322 Words | 6 PagesThese actions make the townspeople think differently about the scarlet “A”, to a point in which the townspeople
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
Differences And Similarities Between The Crucible And Jackie Jackson
1340 Words | 6 PagesThe change led to the society change in their view of Hester. She had “so much power to do, and power to sympathie,--that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by it original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (Hawthorne 146). The ‘A’ on her chest morphs its meaning to represent being able. Robinson, held his tongue for two years, but he could not, like Hester keep quiet any longer.
Summary: Symbolism Within The Scarlet Letter
616 Words | 3 PagesSymbolism Within The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne created symbolism throughout The Scarlet Letter in order to develop the theme throughout Hester’s life. Hester is portrayed as a sheltered soul, shunned from society due to her adulterous acts. The red A and her daughter, Pearl, are symbols of Hester’s shame which she bares proudly despite society's harsh judgements. Hawthorne is able to use symbolism to develop themes, characters, and analogies in the Scarlet Letter.
Gender Stereotypes In The Scarlet Letter
1118 Words | 5 PagesAlthough she is looked down upon by the society in the beginning of the novel, she is transformed into a symbol of strength, something typically reserved for men, towards the end of the novel. “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” (Hawthorne 146). Through her suffering, Hester had become an inspiring symbol of strength for the community.
Redemption In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
1035 Words | 5 PagesThe “A” made people overlook who she really was. “She was self-ordained a Sister of Mercy… The letter was a symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her… that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able.
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 PagesWith Hester changing her ways and helping the poor, the community changed, “They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (Hawthorne 168). While the community originally viewed the “A” as a symbol of sin, they began to see it too as a symbol of being “Able” because all that Hester Prynne had overcome. The Scarlet Letter had many examples of symbolism, but none were more significant that the letter “A”
More about The Scarlet Letter Symbolism
The Glass Castle And The Raisin In The Sun
769 Words | 4 PagesEssay About The Mistakes Hester Prynne Ever Made
599 Words | 3 PagesHester Prynne Symbolism In Scarlet Letter
665 Words | 3 PagesScarlet Letter Symbolism
1322 Words | 6 PagesThe Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis
1014 Words | 5 PagesHester Prynne And John Proctor Analysis
705 Words | 3 PagesAnalysis Of Hester Prynne In The Scarlet Letter
896 Words | 4 PagesDifferences And Similarities Between The Crucible And Jackie Jackson
1340 Words | 6 PagesSummary: Symbolism Within The Scarlet Letter
616 Words | 3 PagesGender Stereotypes In The Scarlet Letter
1118 Words | 5 PagesRedemption In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
1035 Words | 5 PagesWhat Does The Deep Red Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter
940 Words | 4 PagesEssay On Evil In The Scarlet Letter
719 Words | 3 PagesMeaning Of Letter A In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
1289 Words | 6 PagesThe Symbolism Of 'A' In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
959 Words | 4 Pages