Different Interpretations Of The Scarlet Letter - 1609 Words

Different Interpretations of The Scarlet Letter Symbolism is everywhere around us in our daily lives, even if you don’t notice it right away. Traffic signs, company names, and even colors can all be examples of symbolism. Dr. Stephanie Carrez’ article, Symbol and Interpretation, focuses on and interprets the different types of symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter. Focusing mainly on the characters Hester and Pearl, Carrez’ article brings symbolism to a new light as she interprets her thoughts. Carrez’ article shows that symbolism, allegories, and the different possibilities for interpretation play a vital role in analyzing the novel’s worth by using Pearl and Hester as the main examples for the used literary†¦show more content†¦Towards her mother, too, Pearl s errand as a messenger of anguish was all fulfilled,† (Hawthorne). I believe that the symbolism in this quote is exceptional since it is talking about the â€Å"spell† that Pearl has br oken after kissing her father. When Pearl was born, she was known as the physical embodiment of Hester Prynne and Mr. Dimmesdale’s sin. She didn’t show much emotion and didn’t appreciate her father’s presence, or didn’t know how to, until he was gone. When Pearl kisses Dimmesdale, it is almost as if she has broken a spell and can now be her own person. Before, she was almost â€Å"trapped†. She didn’t show her own emotions and didn’t appreciate what a child normally might. I think when Pearl kissed Dimmesdale she realized what she had been missing and started to finally realize that she was about to lose a very important person in her life. Above all, Pearl is shown as a symbol in this novel by representing that she is a physical example of sin. Carrez also uses examples of allegory in her article to explain the importance of the novel. Allegory is a more complex version of symbolism; however, allegory represents one thought, whereas symbolism is a wide spectrum of objects having different meanings than what they physically mean. Allegory is a story using symbolism, where symbolism is theShow MoreRelatedThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1397 Words   |  6 Pages John Graves Professor Connie Caskey English 251: American Literature I 8 February 2016 The Scarlet Letter was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850 which is based on the time frame of the Puritans, a religious group who arrived in Massachusetts in the 1630’s. The Puritans were in a religious period that was known for the strict social norms in which lead to the intolerance of different lifestyles. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the puritan’s strict lifestyles to relate to the universal issues amongRead MoreSymbolism in The Scarlet Letter Essay1252 Words   |  6 Pagesimage, the reader can visualize the concept more concretely. 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The town originally regards the letters as a significationRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1501 Words   |  7 Pagesor her art to portray a story that can be interpreted in different ways. Often times, books will have cover art done by an artist whom has read the book to bring the book’s meanings and themes into one picture. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book, The Scarlet Letter, has acquired many different renditions of the cover over the years from different artists. In his story, a young Puritan, Hester Prynne, is sentenced to a punishment of the scarlet letter after she has committed adultery with an unnamed man. Hawthorne’sRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne979 Words   |  4 Pageswell-known dark romanticist and author of â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† and â€Å"The Scarlet Letter,† displays a love for story and symbols. Goodman Brown in â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† chooses to question his faith and sells himself out of everyone because he does not believe in anyone. Whereas Hester in â€Å"The Scarlet Letter,† was thrown away from everyone because of her actions. Hawthorne’s usage of light and dark imagery in both, â€Å"The Scarlet Letter,† and â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† represents good and evil, and the difficultyRead MoreScarlet Letter And Symbolism1045 Words   |  5 PagesThe Scarlet Letter and Symbolism Nathaniel Hawthorne uses many forms of symbolism in his book The Scarlet Letter. Symbolism is, according to Merriam-Webster, â€Å"the art or practice of using symbols, especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visual or sensuous representations.† This means that the author was using objects to represent an action or idea. The symbols used in his book is either all physical or visible objects. ManyRead MoreA Summary Of Hester Prynnes The Scarlet Letter1135 Words   |  5 PagesThe Scarlet Letter is solely revolved around this red letter that the main character Hester wears. The letter â€Å"A† that is pinned to Hester Prynne originally stands for adultery, but as Hester becomes more involved in the community, much of the town forgets Hesters original crimes and claims that it stands for angel instead. Everyone has their own take on Hester and her letter. The letter â€Å"A† has different conn otations for different characters and evolves through the novel. The Scarlet Letter is