literatura engleza america
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UNIVERSITATEA PETROL I GAZE PLOIETI
FACULATATEA DE LITERE I TIINE
LITERATURA ENGLEZ I AMERICAN
-REFERAT-
HRISCU (DRAGOMIR) CRISTINA
ROMN ENGLEZ, ID
ANUL V,GR. 4700B
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Symbols in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Scarlet Letter is awfully placed among the classic American
novels due to its tightly and structured plot and sophisticated exploration of character
and motivation. Through the tale of Hester Prynnes morality, Hawthorne offers an
assessment of the Puritan consciousness, a code of thought and action the roots of the
American psyche.
The story begins with a young beautiful womans, named Hester Prynne,
public punishment which prevail the whole action of the novel. She was accused of
having committed adultery so she was punished by being exposed, together with her
new born daughter, Pearl on a public place in front of the prison of Boston. She was
also decreeted to wear the A letter from adulteressover her hart.
Meanwhile her long time old husband turned up, he found out about his
wifes sin and he asked her to keep the secret of his real identity. Roger Cilliingsworth
gain reverend Dimmesdales friendship and he slowly and slyly began to harass the
priests sensible consciousness, as he was suspected by the jealous husband of being his
wifes secret lover and the father of her child.
One of the most obvious symbol which seams to bear multiple meanings,
is the letter A.It is the symbol throughout the novel as it represents the sin. But itsignifies more of the sin of adultery, it represent the sin of all characters of the book.
For Hester Prynne, this letter isnt only the sign of adultery but it also symbolizes the
difference among the society of the Puritan Boston.
For her daughter, Pearl is acting as the leaving A and it symbolizes her
existence and the meaning behind it. And lastly, her lover Arthur Dimmesdale, this
letter is a constant reminder of his hidden sin, which cause great remorse of him. All in
all, the scarlet A represents different sins for each of the character.
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The scaffoldis also a symbolical place. The author portrays it as a place
of atonement for sin. There are three main scenes which involve the scaffold but in each
of them the outcome id different. In the first scene Hester s standing on the scaffold in
front of the crowd caused her to become a better person, concerned with helping other
persons. This wasnt the case of Arthur Dimmesdale which stood on the scaffold alone
in the dark. Since it was dark he could not atone. He was later forgiven when he stood
on the scaffold in public. This shows the importance of making the sin public.
The light and the darkness are used in this novel for significant of the mankind
philosophy that God illuminates the darkness of human iniquity and exposes its
permanence.
Hawthorne defines light not only as a Divine presence but also as an animate
consciousness. Still acting as a tool of God, light seams to run away from Hester when
she tries to touch it. []the sunshine doesnot love you. It runs away and hides itself
because it is afraid of something of your bosom.says Hesters little girl.
One of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book is
Pearl. Throughout the story she develops into a dynamic symbol which is always
changing. With Pearl, Hesters life was never filled with joy but with constant nagging.
Even in public, Pearl wasnt ashamed to yell and to throw dirt at the children who made
fun of them. In this case Perl symbolized her mothers decimation of the social life and
her mental state. Pearl seams to signifies an ultimate association with the letter A .
Hesters pregnancy revealed her sin and if it wasnt for this burden, Hesters life
wouldnt be so miserable.
In this novel, the forest symbolizes much more than one might image.
Each character brings out a different side of the forest; however the forest brings out a
different side of each character.One of the symbolic meanings of the forest is that of the evil forces that
linger in the darkness. According to mistress Hibbinss opinion, the forest represented
an open door to the wicked world but it isnt the only door that forest holds.
It is also an open door to love and freedom for both Hester and Arthur
Dimmesdale. It is the place where the letter on their bodies can no longer have an effect
upon them. It is a world ruled by nature and natural laws opposed to the artificial strict
community. The forest represents the key for the shackles they have been forced to wear
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and even if they refuse to unlock it, they begin to dwell on the sings they have done to
deserve these shackles.
In Pearls eyes the forest shapesa different concept. It is a place where
she is accepted and when the light follows her everywhere she goes. She is able to run
and play freely to her hearts content. She can do that because her heart is innocent and
the forest recognizes that.
The Broke riveris also full of symbolism. It represents the boundary
between two worlds: a world of peace and freedom and one of lies and guilt. It is also
suggestive Brokes resemblance with Pearl. They both have an unknown source
meaning that most people dont know where the Broke and Pearl come from. One more
similarity between the two is that the Broke woven through a dark and evil forest, yet
the water does not stop traveling. Pearl is in the similar situation. Throughout her whole
life she has been unwillingly woven into the evil and sorrow that her mother dealt with,
but she kept on going just like the broke river.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Nathaniel HawthorneThe scarlet Letter (Dover Publications, New York 1994)
2. Nathaniel HawthorneLitera Stacojie