Symbols and Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Symbols and Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Intro Summary Analysis Themes Characters Symbolism Nathaniel Hawthorne, a master of symbolism in American literature, uses a variety of symbols in The Scarlet Letter to add depth and complexity to the novel. A literary symbol is typically a concrete object representing a larger, abstract idea. Symbols in literature can convey moral, religious, or philosophical concepts, ranging from simple representations to intricate metaphors, such as the white whale in Moby Dick . Allegory and the Puritan Perspective An allegory is a story in which characters, objects, and events carry hidden meanings, often to convey universal lessons. Hawthorne’s novel is set in Puritan New England, a society that viewed the world through an allegorical lens. To the Puritans, natural occurrences, such as a meteor streaking across the sky, held moral or religious significance. Objects, like the scaffold, became symbols of sin and repentance. While the Puritans used these symbols as tools of moral repression, Hawthorne trans…