Literary Devices in The Scarlet Letter Literary devices are often used to capture a reader’s attention in a text. Nathaniel Hawthorne used many different types of literary devices in his book The Scarlet Letter. He uses symbolism to give hidden meaning to elements in the story, conflict to make the story interesting, and allusion to make references to historical events (ex. biblical references). While reading The Scarlet Letter, the literary devices did not jump out at me, but now as I reflect upon them they help me understand the book well. Literary devices can make a passage have a whole different meaning. There are various examples of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter, but one of them wraps the whole story together: the meaning of the scarlet letter A. In this passage, Hester Prynne wears an embroidered letter A on her bosom as punishment. At first the A stood for “adulterer”, but the townspeople later gained respect for her and said “Such helpfulness was found in her-so much power to do and to sympathize-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet “A” by its original significance. They said it meant ‘Able’” (Hawthorne 107). To me the “A” symbolizes hard work, morality, and poise. Hester came a long way in the Puritan town. In this passage we see conflict over and over again between all of the characters. Reverend Dimmesdale says …show more content…
There is an example of an allusion in The Scarlet Letter- “The walls were hung round with tapestry, said to be from the Goblin looms, and, at all events, representing the Scriptural story of David and Bathsheba, and Nathan the prophet” (Hawthorne 84). This example of allusion is a biblical reference to when David had an affair with a woman named Bathsheba while her husband was sent to war. A guy in the bible named Nathan knew about David’s secret affair and threatened to tell Bathsheba’s husband. The situation in The Scarlet Letter is very similar to this biblical
During the early 1600’s, Puritan groups migrated from Europe to the Massachusetts Bay Colony to establish a settlement based around very strict religious beliefs. The Scarlet Letter is set in this time period and settlement where it was considered a horrendous sin to commit adultery. Hester Prynne engaged in sexual relations with the minister, Dimmesdale, which resulted in a child named Pearl. This novel highlights Hester’s struggle to raise her child and protect herself from the societal attacks thrown at her, while overcoming the label bestowed upon her by society. In, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses specific diction, repetition, and denotative diction in order to convey the purpose of overcoming labels and protecting one’s image.
Hawthorne uses symbolism to help demonstrate guilt throughout the book. One of the biggest symbols in the story was the scarlet letter “A” in which Hester was sentenced to wear after she committed
Character Foils In The Scarlet Letter Those who contrast each other make for engrossing storytelling. Nathaniel Hawthorne demonstrates this truth often in his romantic narrative, “The Scarlet Letter”.
The protagonist, Jack has always been harsh on the elderly due to a loss of respect. He loses this respect because Jack feels that the older generation is very racist and judgmental and he doesn't believe that people who are still racist and stuck in a less modern way of thinking shouldn't be treated as a normal person. In chapter one of the novel, "[Shakes] her matchwood arm" when she tells him about Governor Stanton (5.520). An example of an allegory in The Scarlet Letter is again the actual A that Hester wears. The A is supposed to stand for adultery which is one of the most immoral sins at that time.
Some important techniques used in The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne are conflict and figurative language, especially irony and symbolism. The conflict drives the story, and affects how different characters change in positive and negative ways, as well as how the characters interact. Hawthorne also uses many types of figurative language, including irony and symbolism. Arthur Dimmesdale himself is a very ironic person; everyone adores him and thinks he is an amazing person, but on the inside he has built up guilt from the crime he has committed, and even refers to himself as “the worst of sinners”. The irony of Dimmesdale is very important to the end of the story, when he confesses his crime to everyone, and how people react.
However, as you dig deeper, you will see Hawthorne’s true purpose for writing the novel. In the Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses irony to criticize the Puritan ideals. Hester’s Scarlet “A” is used to show how imperfect the Puritans are. The narrator describes Hester’s scarlet letter when he says: “On the breast of her gown,
In the beginning the scarlet letter represented adultery and shame, but then the A represented “able.” Hester Prynne showed people that greatness can come out of huge mistake. One bad chapter does not mean your story is over. Willingly, Hester wanted to pick herself up again and move on with her life and eventually people noticed that. They began to respect her and think of her as strong and commendable
The guilt that festers inside of her transforms that “A” into a brand. Years after she commits her ‘sin,” the town silently enables her to remove the symbol from her bosom. They are now willing to see her as a multifaceted individual as opposed to just an “adulterer”. Hester, however, is not ready to forgive herself. She embraces the sin as a part of her character, her life, that she does not intend to release.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's use of diction, syntax, language, and point of view in The Scarlet Letter have both strengths and weaknesses. In order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of Nathaniel Hawthorne's writing style, we must first understand the technique he is using in his literary works. Mr. Hawthorne's depiction of colonial Boston in the 1800s is one of judgment, punishment, ridicule, and contempt. Although Mr. Hawthorne's style may be a bit perplexing towards his readers, his writing is very detailed, descriptive, and portrays a message showing one reading the novel the main symbol of the story - Pearl - while adding poetic devices, imagery, literal meaning, figurative meaning, symbolism, and so much more along the way.
The scarlet letter ‘A’ did not stand for “adultery” anymore. It stood for “able.” “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her, —so much power to do, and power to sympathize, —that 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.”
Hawthorne uses chapter twenty-two, “The Procession”, to put all the pieces of the puzzle of the conflict together. This is where the reader remotely begins to understand how the ending of the novel will come to an end. To reveal the conclusion to the reader, Hawthorne uses rhetorical devices such as, irony, simile, and diction. To expose the irony in this chapter, Hawthorne writes of Dimmesdale’s sermon. As Dimmesdale speaks, “if the auditor listened intently, and for the purpose, he could detect the same cry of pain.”
Nathaniel Hawthorne did not always speak positively toward the Puritans, but he has respect for the group. The main symbol that stands out is the scarlet letter “A” that was stuck on Hester Prynne for her actions of adultery which is a theme for this book. Another symbol is the rose bush that grew right outside of the old, rusty, decaying prison
Nicholas Smith English 3 A 12 October 2015 Mr. Farrington Scarlet Letter Symbol Analysis Throughout the novel Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbols to represent major themes in the book. The most obvious is the scarlet letter that Hester is forced to wear. The other symbols are the scaffold and the forest. These symbols represent many things, and Hawthorne uses them to make his novel much deeper, and much more sophisticated.
The two-century-old novel, The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is about two lovers who commit a horrible sin. Only one is punished for the sin, though. The woman’s [Hester Prynne] husband—believed to be dead—comes back to town to find her being gawked at by her community. He tells her not to say anything about his identity, and instead goes to find her silent lover. Said lover is too scared to confess his part in the sin, and instead lets the guilt eat him from the inside out.
With Hester changing her ways and helping the poor, the community changed, “They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (Hawthorne 168). While the community originally viewed the “A” as a symbol of sin, they began to see it too as a symbol of being “Able” because all that Hester Prynne had overcome. The Scarlet Letter had many examples of symbolism, but none were more significant that the letter “A”