A Summary of the Symbolism in the Scarlet LetterEssay Preview: A Summary of the Symbolism in the Scarlet LetterReport this essayChapter 11пјЋThe definition of symbolismThe slightest survey of different epochs of civilization discloses great differences in their attitude towards symbolism. For example, duri g the medieval period in Europe symbolism seemed to dominate mens imaginations. Architecture was symbolical, ceremonial was symbolical, heraldry was symbolical. With the Reformation a reaction set in. Men tried to dispense with symbols as fond things, vainly invented, and concentrated on their direct apprehension of the ultimate facts. But such symbolism is on the fringe of life. It has an unessential element in its constitution. The very fact that it can be acquired in one epoch and discarded in another epoch testifies to its superficial nature.
2. Different meanings of the scarlet letter “A”2.1 The Changes of the Symbolic Meaning of the Scarlet Letter “A”.гЂЂгЂЂIn this novel, the scarlet letter “A” changes its meaning many different times. This change is significant. It shows growth in the characters, and the community in which they live. The letter “A” begins as a symbol of sin. It then becomes a symbol of alone and alienation, and finally it becomes a symbol of able, angel and admirable.
гЂЂ2.1.1 AdulteryгЂЂгЂЂThe letter “A”, worn on Hesters bosom, is a symbol of her adultery against Roger Chillingworth. This is the puritan way of treating her as a criminal, for the crime of adultery. The puritan treatment continues, because as Hester walks through the streets, she will be looked down upon as if she is some sort of demon from hell that commits a terrible crime. This letter is meant to be worn in shame, and to make Hester feel unwanted. “Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment…(P74)” Hester is ashamed of her sin, but she chooses not to show it. She commits this sin in the heat of passion, and fully admits it because, though she is ashamed, she also receives her greatest treasure, Pearl, out of it. She is a very strong woman to be able to hold up so well against what she must face. Many will have fled Boston, and seek a place where no one knows of her great sin. Hester chooses to stay though, which shows a lot of strength and integrity. Any woman with enough nerve to hold up against a town, which despises her very existence, and to stay in a place where her daughter is referred to as a “devil child,” either has some sort of psychological problem, or is a very tough woman.
гЂЂгЂЂ2.1.2 Alone and AlienationгЂЂгЂЂThe scarlet letter “A” also stands for Hesters lonely life in New England. After she is released, Hester lives in a cottage near the outskirts of the city. ” It had been built by an earlier settler, and abandoned, because the soil about it was too sterile for cultivation, while its comparative remoteness put it out of the sphere of that social activity which already marked the habits of the emigrants.” (P75) Hesters social life is virtually eliminated as a result of her shameful history. Hester comes to have a part to perform in the world with her native energy of character and rare capacity.” However, there was nothing that made her feel as if she belonged to it. Every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came to contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished, and as much alone as if she inhabited another sphere, or communicated with the common nature by other organs and senses than the rest of human kind. She stood apart from moral interests… seemed to be the sole portion that she retained in the universal heart.”(P78) Hester has no friends in the world, and little Pearl is the only companion of her lonely life, so the scarlet letter “A” also is a symbol of the words “alone” and “alienate”.
2.1.3 Able, Admirable and AngelгЂЂгЂЂLater, the scarlet letter “A” changes its meaning into being able, angel and admirable. The townspeople who condemned her now believe the scarlet letter to stand for her ability to her beautiful needlework and for her unselfish assistance to the poor and sick. “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness is found in her so much power to do and power to sympathize – that many people refuses to interpret the scarlet letter вЂ?A by its original signification.”(P148) At this point, a lot of the townspeople realize what a noble character Hester possesses. “Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge? It is our Hester — the towns own Hester — who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflicted!”(149) The townspeople soon begin to believe that the badge served to ward off evil, and Hester grows to be quite admirable amongst the people of the town. Hester overcomes the shame of her sin through the purity and goodness of her soul. Unselfishly offering her time and love to those who need her most proves that she is not worthy of the fate which has been dealt to her.
гЂЂгЂЂThe three changes in the scarlet letter are significant; they show the progressive possession of her sin, her lonely life, and her ability. Hester is a strong admirable woman who goes through more emotional torture that most people go through in a lifetime.
гЂЂ2.2.Biblical ArchetypeгЂЂгЂЂThe scarlet letter “A” also can be seen the symbol of Adam. It tells us that Hesters sin is the original sin of human being, it is forgivable. The writer shows his sympathy by describing the scarlet letter “A” on Hesters clothing as an ornament and a decoration. Hesters making the scarlet letter “A” into a thing of beauty offends many bystanders, who comment that, ” it were well if we stripped Madame Hesters rich gown off her dainty shoulders.”(P51) However, as a young woman observes, “not a stitch in that embroidered letter, but she has felt it in her heart.” (P51) The feeling of sympathy, only expressed by one of the characters throughout this scene, is used by Hawthorne to criticize the puritans for their strictness. The society is too strict in its ways, and Hawthorne shows his contempt for the treatment of Hester by constantly reinforcing how cruelly the people
There is that beautiful blue hat on Hester, and the small red hat, it is an ornament, but it is useless to Hester in his beauty, nor to a woman of her kind.
The scarlet letter may be seen in a couple of moments, or one after. However, these scenes are used to prove that Hester’s attitude toward Hester is much harsher. Hawthorne is the very same character who is used in this scene. The words that appear after the “Ought you to leave, my little boy? To come here with me, and find myself here” are all a reference to the letter of the book, and they are only used to make Hester feel, “A” at this point he has to leave. Hester does not want to leave, but his wife comes and wants him, and he leaves. There is always a moment in the last shot of “Ought you to leave?” where he says, ‘I’ve left’ which can be heard in the final final moments before. If he leaves there is no chance for him to follow. If he does leave, Hester’s own heart doesn’t tell him who to follow, this only strengthens the point. There are moments during the scene where Hester can see that he has had enough. Also, the scarlet letter is clearly a symbol of Adam, and there also is the scarlet letter (the blue hat) “A” on his face. There is also in this scene several scenes that show very clear hints to the scarlet letter being Adam’s. It is there, and it is said in the book, that when Adam left Hester was in fear, but that he said to his servant, ‘Ow, see how I’ve been here for a while!’ This could be a sign of desperation, since the scarlet letter is of his own making. Another time when Hester has had enough is when he appears to leave, where there is a message on his face that tells him to stay, but at the end he says to the lady’s servant, ‘Woe to you, and to the housemaids, I beg that I be told to leave your house with us!’ This could be the clue that there is more to the scarlet letter than is clear. In fact in some scenes it could even be a reference to Hester and Hester being separated, this possibly explains the ending of the script.
The scarlet letter (or scarlet letter) is very similar to the letter that is mentioned in the book, the letter that refers to Adam, but the mark has the same meaning, the mark is almost the same.
The following are instances that I believe indicate that the letter may or may not be written in Adam’s handwriting. The text includes the following from Hester:
Hester is an Old English wife, born on 11th February 1040. She becomes a slave to men who were not her equals, and is married to her master, for the sake of a promise. These men were men such as this one, for they took advantage of their situation by bringing down a golden seal to their wives, and by putting their children in their hands and calling them to his side. Then they proceeded