Motifs in “The Scarlet Letter” by Hawthorne Essay

In a novel of evil and redemption, symbolism is utilize to broaden the significance of accredited aspects. Throughout The Scarlet earn, Hawthorne uses a barrage of themes, motifs, and symbolisms. These images service of process to unify the novel and enrich the meaning asshole the work. Early in the novel, Hawthorne refers to atomic number 26, oak, chains mainly to deliver the Puritanism that takes place in the novel. However, he also uses these typic items to display the bonds betwixt characters and what they believe in. In the counterbalance paragraph of the novel, Hawthorne describes the prison opening which was heavily half-timber with oak and studded with weight-lift spikes (Pg. 33) to flaunt the ascesis and illustrate what times were like right remove the bat. He uses verisimilitude to liken the callousness of the puritan value-system to the portal behind which go the criminals who dont follow these guidelines. The symbolism in this situation is used to intens ify the importance of the puritan ethic in the novel.To elucidate Hesters desire to move tail end to Eng soil, and her morals for staying, Hawthorne states that The chain that bound her here was of press out link, and galling to her inmost soul, but never could be broken. (Pg. 55) Even though she knew she could move back anytime she wanted, Hester tangle fervent on staying in New England to see herself to everyone. In this case Hawthorne used symbolism to ordinate the bond between man and nature. Hester was bound to the land through a chain of fulfillment. Hawthorne also uses symbolism to form a correlation between dissimilar chapters in the novel. On the first page, Hawthorne describes the prison accession as a portal to doom. In The governors Hall, Hawthorne described the Governors door as a door to liberty. If Hester lifted the iron hammer (Pg. 71) and entered the Governors home, she would be winning the first step to freedom from her sin. The last bureau Hawthorne use s symbolism is to illustrate Hesters link to Dimmesdale.Hester knew at that place was a responsibility posed upon her which she allocated to the reverend. Here was the iron link of mutual crime which neither he nor she could break. (Pg. 109) This connection was what bonded the two unitedly. Although all Hesters links to her world were gone, she would always be in possession of the tie between herself and Dimmesdale, though an obligation to withhold, that would last forever. The Scarlet Letter used symbolism to intensify, explain, and link many things together throughout the novel. Iron, oak, and chains are few of legion(predicate) symbols Hawthorne uses throughout the novel. Without therepresentation of these images, the story would not have been unified under one central theme. The motifs in the novel branch out from one idea. The signs and symbols we blot help us to appreciate this account of love, sin, and salvation.