The Scarlet Letter: Interchanging Symbols

The Scarlet Letter: Interchanging Symbols

In the book The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are many important symbols used to represent the abstract ideas of the author. The reader is able to think about the double meaning of what seems to be a common object or character. Many critics such as Joyce Moss ___________ agree that, "The Scarlet Letter is Hawthorne's masterpiece and his most profound exploration of sin" (304). Although the scarlet letter is just a piece of fabric, it is one of the most important symbols that represent Hester's sin. In the beginning, the letter stands for shame, but throughout the book the views on Hester's letter transform. A similar symbol to the scarlet letter is Hester's daughter, Pearl. She is considered to be the living version of Hester's wrong doing, yet also a blessing. Like the letter, Pearl's behavior and image change towards the end of the book. The meaning of sin evolves throughout The Scarlet Letter and is represented through the scarlet letter "A" and Pearl.

As a result of Hester committing an unforgiving sin in Puritan society, she must wear an "A" at all times, standing for "Adultery". Moss describes how the scarlet letter is represented:

Hawthorne was masterful in the use of symbolism, and the scarlet letter "A" stands as his most potent symbol, around which interpretations of the novel revolve. At one interpretive pole the "A" stands for adultery and sin, and the novel is the story of individual punishment and reconciliation (305).

When Hester is in public, everyone's attention is drawn right to the letter on her chest. It's shameful for Hester, so she and Pearl move to the outer boundaries of town. At one point during the book Pearl told her mother, "The sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom" (191). When Pearl grows older she starts to become curious about the scarlet letter, which is even harder for Hester. As the story continues, Hester starts to volunteer in the community and makes a living by making ornate clothing. Professor of English at the University of New Mexico Robert Sattlemeyer describes how the views on the letter "A" start to change:

"Hester, having come to terms with her sin, is inwardly reconciled to God and self; and she ministers to the needy among her towns-people, reconciling herself with others until some observe that her 'A' now stands for 'Able. People from the community even come to her from comfort and counseling' (55).

Although the stares and gossip lighten up, Hester still carries the burden of her "A". This is until Dimesdale confesses his sin, and Pearl grows up and moves away. "The scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world's scorn and bitterness, and became a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, and yet with reverence, too" (267). As the reader starts to look at Pearls meaning in