Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter

1. Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter KaileeIzat and Kayla Lake

2. Prompt: A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something of that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select two pieces, focusing on one symbol for each, write an essay analyzing how each symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters of themes of the work as a whole.

3. Introduction • The Scarlet Letter depicts the errors in Puritan society through symbols that represent facets of Transcendentalism. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses these symbols through the struggles of a young exiled Puritan woman.

4. Thesis • The overarching symbol in The Scarlet Letter” is Hester’s forced adornment of the letter “A.” Hester Prynn changes through out her journey, as does the A; thus leading to her eventual liberation.

5. Body Paragraph 1 • Topic Sentence: Initially, Hester’s A stands for her conviction, representing the word “Adultery.” • Conclusion Sentence: However, the initial conviction spurs a revolutionary change inside of Hester. • “Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast,--at her, the child of honorable parents—at her, the mother of a babe, that would hereafter be a woman,--at her, who had once been innocent,--as the figure, the body, the reality of sin.”

6. Why we chose this quote: This quote represents the epitome of Hester’s condition. Within the structure of Puritan society her crime of adultery will always be well known or recognized

7. Body Paragraph 2 • Topic Sentence: As Hester’s punishment endures, the A begins its transformation. • Conclusion Sentence: Through chapters like “Hester At Her Needle”, the reader witnesses the metamorphosis of the A to it’s eventual, true definition. • “Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment; and so, perchance, the torture of her daily shame would at length purge her soul, and work out another purity than which she had lost; more saint-like because the result of martyrdom.” • “Many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength.”

8. Why we chose this quote: This quote represents the change of Hester within herself and her mind set. Revelation It reveals that through her exile, she finds truth with in herself—a true concept of Transcendelist thinking.

9. Body Paragraph 3 • Topic Sentence: At the end of the novel, and the completion of Hester’s transformation the A finally reveals its true meaning—”Able” • Conclusion sentence: Hester’s exile liberates her and separates her from the ills of society. • “She had wandered, without rule or guidance, into a moral wilderness.. Her intellect and heart had their home, as it were, in desert places, where she roamed as freely as the wild Indian in his woods. The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers-stern and wild ones- and they had made her strong…”

10. Why we chose this quote: This quote shows Hester’s realization of herself and the true meaning of the letter A. In this quote, she looks upon the positive aspects of her forced adornment rather than the negative.

11. Conclusion: • The Letter A represents the cycle of transformation from conformity to liberation/acceptance • Repeat the three changes: • Adultery • Able • Acceptance

12. The End!