Scarlet Letter Symbolism

Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth all committed their own type of sins, which all altered their lives drastically for better or for worse. Hester’s commitment of adultery made her an outcast in the community, but eventually changing her into a wiser soul. The townspeople neglected Hester and Pearl, as the quote, “...the little Puritans..., had got a vague idea of something outlandish, unearthly, or at variance with ordinary fashions, in the mother and child, and therefore scorned them in their hearts, and not unfrequently reviled them with their tongues” (Hawthorne, 141), shows that even children felt that Hester and Pearl were different than others. Unlike Hester, Dimmesdale’s mental and physical state slowly deteriorated throughout …show more content…
The rosebush at the beginning of the story and the rosebush among the weeds in Governor Bellingham’s garden signify Hester herself. The weeds symbolism the people around Hester whose sins are unconfessed and remain ugly with hatred, while the rose itself represents the beauty in pain. Describing the roses with the quote, “let us hope, to symbolise some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow” (74) shows that the rose holds valuable significance throughout the story. The scarlet letter itself, the “A”, descriptively stands for “Adulterer”, which outlines the sin that Hester had committed. The letter holds a lot of pain and shame to it, shown by, “...for the remainder of her natural life to wear a mark of shame upon her bosom” (95). Another form of symbolism is the scaffold, which represents confession or recognition of sin as the quote, “...and foot-worn, too, with the tread of many culprits who had since ascended it” shows that only those who have committed crimes ascend the scaffold. Hester stands upon the scaffold upon first being announced as an adulterer, and later, Dimmesdale would find himself there seeking forgiveness and confessing to what he has done. Lastly, the forest symbolizes the secrets within the heart of Hester, as she often goes there to confront Chillingworth or to be with Dimmesdale. The quote, “The forest was obscure around them” ( 293-294), shows that the forest was a hidden place full of hidden

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