In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism to bring the story and

characters to life. The symbols can be recognized throughout the entire story and can represent a

different number of themes or ideas.

Symbolism can simply be explained as an artistic and poetic style using symbolic images

and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas, emotions, or states of mind. Authors use

symbols as a way to express the hidden meaning or idea in a story. Symbols can also reveal a

characters personality or their reasoning behind certain actions. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses a

variation of symbols to express the feelings of his characters.

An ever changing symbol in this book is Pearl, Hester Prynnes daughter. Hester named

her Pearl as a representation of Hesters only treasure that was bought at a great price. Pearl

represents the price of Hesters sin and the possibility of a chance at redemption. Hester gave up

everything she had for Pearl: her reputation, her community, and even her religion. Pearl is also

the pearl of great price to Dimmesdale. When he finally acknowledges the fact that he shares

responsibility in the sin he and Hester committed, he gains forgiveness, even though he has to

give up everything in his life. Pearl is the sin, guilt, and redemption in Hester and Dimmesdales

lives.

In The Scarlet Letter, the characters often make a reference to, the Black Man. He is the

symbol for all things evil in the characters lives. The Black Man is essentially Satan to all of

Hawthornes characters. Hester claims that her scarlet letter, A, is the Black Mans mark, while

Pearl wonders if he is also the one who left his brand on Dimmesdales chest. It is questioned

whether humans are good or evil, and if they choose to be evil, or if evil happens by accident,
such as Hesters and Dimmesdales affair. The community uses the Black Man as the symbol of

all evil, making evile something separate from common human life.

Hester Prynne isnt the only one who has a symbol on her chest of the sin she has

committed. Dimmesdale also wears one underneath. Dimmesdales mark, however, is left in

blood. Its the representation of the guilt he will carry with him till the day he dies. How this

mark came about is the only mystery to it. It can be assumed Dimmesdale himself carved the

mark himself, considering he would beat himself for his sins. Pearl, however, believes the mark

was left by the Black Man. While Hester was forced to come forward with her sin, Dimmesdale

didnt. This symbolizes his sin more permanently than Hesters scarlet letter. The scarlet letter

can be removed as time goes by, but Dimmesdales mark, much like his guilt, is with him till the

day he dies.

The most obvious symbol throughout the book is Hesters scarlet letter. This letter

represents more than just the fact that Hester committed adultery; its the sin, hard work, skill,

righteousness, sacredness, and the grace that Hester embodies. She wears it as a punishment,

although she never lets it dictate what or who she is. Its ornate beauty and detail show the skill

and hard work she obtains. As her life goes on the letter begins to take on a new meaning: able.

Hester is able and capable of doing great things. When Hester returns after several years, she

takes up the letter again, only this time it is a symbol of grace: a type of something to be

sorrowed over, and looked up with awe, yet with reverence too.

Nathaniel Hawthorne used symbols in every aspect of the story. It revealed the

underlying message being presented to the audience and how the characters would deal with the

problems and guilt they carry throughout.

Reflection: This essay does a good job at analyzing the literary devices used in the book The

Scarlet Letter. It helps the reader see and define different uses of a literary device and help them

understand the book better.