Themes, Symbols, and ImageryTHE SCARLET LETTER
The interplay of light and darkness is fundamental
in the novel.Hawthorne “shadows”
every scene: The mingling of light and
shadow gives the book visual imagery that
alludes to the larger, grander conflict between
good and evil.
IMAGERY: LIGHT AND DARK
Consider Pearl’s wise observation in Chapter 21, regarding
Dimmesdale:“What a strange, sad man is he! In the dark nighttime he calls us to him, and holds thy hand and
mine, as when we stood with him on the scaffold yonder! And in the
deep forest, where only the old trees can hear and the strip of sky sees it, he talks with thee…and he
kisses my forehead, too…But here, in the sunny day, and among
all the people, he knows us not; nor must we know him!”
IMAGERY: LIGHT AND DARK
Sunlight and daylight can be seen as the equivalent of
openness, honesty, and goodness.
Nighttime and shadow represent concealment,
secrets, and evil.But wildness and evil are not necessarily identical.The forest, where Indians
and the Black man dwell, is also the abode of nature.
IMAGERY: LIGHT AND DARK
As Pearl notes, in town, Dimmesdale can mount the scaffold and enact a
mock penance only in darkest night.He can freely be himself with
Hester only in the forest.And in the heart of the forest’s
darkness, sunshine bursts through as if to support the lovers’ liberty.
The forest, for all of its shadows, is the symbol of the human heart and
inner self.If the settlement stands for society,
it appears to be a society that neglects or even outlaws the human
heart.
IMAGERY: LIGHT AND DARK
What emerges is a novel built on a world of
symbolic contrasts.
Every scene can become a symbol or metaphor.
IMAGERGY: LIGHT AND DARK
Literary themes are the insight an author presents to
the reader about life or human nature.
Broader themesGood v. Evil
Psychological effects of sinIndividuals in relationship to
Puritan communityHypocrisyRevenge
THEMES: THE SCARLET LETTER
The scarlet letter “A”Symbolizes the function of the human will as the critical element in the contest between the dark of the devil’s
domain and the sunshine of God’s virtue.
Its human incarnation is Pearl, Hester’s daughter.
SYMBOLS: THE SCARLET LETTER
A = adultery: But is the issue really adultery? Hester did not knowingly cheat on her husband,
whom she thought was dead.The bigger issue addressed is the effects of sin.
The sin, committed before the story begins, involves four central characters and leads to further sins.
The novel raises questions:What secrets are hidden in the human heart?Who, really, is righteous, and who is a sinner?
SYMBOLISM: THE SCARLET LETTER
THE PURITANS: KEY CONTEXT FOR THE SCARLET
LETTERThe scarlet letter that Hester wears over her
bosom is as important for the community as it is for the other central characters.
The community is measured by the letter as much as the principle characters.
First, when humankind tries to evade its sinful legacy by constructing social institutions that
“outlaw” sin, the results are usually disastrous.Our fascination with the sins of others predisposes us to a moralistic outlook on society, as opposed to a moral outlook regarding our individual attitudes and actions: the result is arrogance and hypocrisy.
THE PURITANS; KEY CONTEXT FOR THE SCARLET
LETTER
Hawthorne infers that in their religious zeal, this community tries to legislate morality
and eliminate the need for human will.Hester, first by her sin, and then by the
depth of her character, demonstrates the importance of the individual’s will as a key
element in virtue.Hester proves that free will and choice is the one – and perhaps, the critical element – in
living the virtuous life.
When these fundamentals are put together, the tale is
clear:Hester, through an effort of the will, manages to love (as defined by the Christian ideal) even
though that love is not returned by society.
SYMBOLS: THE SCARLET LETTER
In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne
tries to make us see that:
Guilt can destroy a person, body, and
soul.The punishment imposed on us by others may not be
as destructive as the guilt we experience.
THEMES: THE SCARLET LETTER
True repentance must come from within.
Revenge destroys both the victim and the seeker.
Even well-intended secrets and deceptions can lead to
destruction.We must have the courage to be true to who we are.It is by recognizing and
dealing with our weaknesses that make us
stronger.
THEMES: THE SCARLET LETTER
The choices we make determine who we
become.Within each person
exists the capacity for both good and evil.People must accept responsibility for
their actions or suffer the consequences.
THEMES: THE SCARLET LETTER