What Does Red Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

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When one is driving and approaches a red light does he stop or keep going? The obvious answer is stop due to our mind telling us red means stop. In life there are plenty examples of symbolism. Such as street signs or even a logo for a big industry in today's society. Symbolism is used throughout today's society and many different cases. Many authors use symbolism in books to get a point across or even expose the theme to the reader better. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism to compel the reader to compare his own life to the book. Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts during the period of the Salem witch trials. Because of his grandfather and father taking part in these trials Hawthorne grew up realizing the sinful nature of man. Hawthorne uses symbolic objects and colors to show different …show more content…
One of the main colors within Hawthorne’s works is red. In Hawthorne’s novels and short stories red is a meaning of sin or specifically in the The Scarlet Letter it is symbolized as adultery. “On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold-thread, appeared the letter A”(Scarlet 40). The letter “A” in The Scarlet Letter was given to Hester because of her own wrong doings. Hester was a married woman coming to America and her husband was to follow her journey to the Americas. Her husband would never make it to America and was thought to have been lost at sea. Hester goes on with her life and soon becomes pregnant while living in the Puritan society. Hester was then put to shame by the Puritan society and was known as an adulterer. The scarlet letter “A” is the most symbolic object of The Scarlet Letter. But the scarlet letter “A” is not the only depiction of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne uses a great deal of symbolism
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