Chapter One Introduction 1.1 Overview The “Scarlet Letter” is considered as one of the symbolic works in American literature. In Hawthorne's, use of symbolism is one of the significant contributions to the rise of American Literature. As suggested by Bilind in his essay, symbolism in the Scarlet Letter ,that Symbolism in the novel makes it puritan's allegory, leave very little important point that where from Hawthorne derives his symbolism? (Bilind,2011:7,8) This research concentrates on symbolic images in The Scarlet Letter to uncover their meaning and how the idea of Hawthorne’s novel focuses on symbols. One well-known example in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter is where the scarlet letter "A" pinned to Hester Prynne's breast represents adultery.
It's well-known that Nathaniel Hawthorne is an American writer of fiction. Hawthorne's unique gift was for the creation of strongly symbolic stories which touch the depest roots of man's moral nature. His work, The Scarlet Letter, is also acknowledged in the world and is fomous for the symbolism skills in the novel. Meanwhile, the symbolics are changinging with different characters and different time. Among them, the scarlet letter "A" plays an important role.
Hawthorne has a perfect atmosphere for the symbols in The Scarlet Letter because the Puritans saw the world through allegory. For them, simple patterns, like the meteor streaking through the sky, became religious or moral interpretations for human events. The most obvious and well known symbol is the scarlet letter “A”, which has various meanings depending on different people and context. The “A” is meant to be a symbol of shame, but instead it becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester (Carrez). The letter’s meaning shifts as time passes.
In this famous work, Lewis conveys an imaginary, dream-like encounter between souls in hell and souls in heaven. Thus, it is in his works of fiction that his religious concerns are memorably animated. The novel’s popularity demonstrates that the means of imaginative fiction can be successfully used for religiously-motivated ends. In his biography of Lewis, Douglas Gresham argues that Lewis had the most fun with imaginative works of literature; he notes that “Lewis thrived on the imaginative portrayals of Christian doctrine envisioned by George Macdonald” (212). The imagination permits, to be sure, the exploration of things religious precisely because it involves other-worldly events and characters that fit some of the fantastic concepts in religious stories or figures.
In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbolism of the letter “A” and the Jail in the Puritan town to portray the theme of sin, and show how the puritans, despite their biggest beliefs and deepest desires for a utopian society, looked to seek out sin and punish it publically because they knew that ultimately sin was inevitable as it was human nature. The theme of sin is a reoccurring phenomenon throughout the book, and ultimately an integral part of the story’s plot and moral. The symbolism that the author conveys through the mentioning and description of the Jail in the center of the Puritan town clearly shows how immense the desire to punish sin, which the puritans realize is inevitable, really is. The letter “A” serves as a symbol that portrays the importance of seeking and labeling out sinners to the puritans in their society. The theme of sin, and its inevitability and punishment in the puritan society, is clearly conveyed by Hawthorne through the symbolism of the town Jail in The Scarlet Letter.
It can be said that The Scarlet Letter is a provocative book that filled with symbols. In fact, in this novel, Hawthorne plays with ‘A’ letters to clarify a great meaning and endow his book with the idea of universality. Even those readers who haven’t read The Scarlet Letter know about scarlet letters. Hawthorne has given
The names of the characters are extremely ironic such as Pearl, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale. Hawthorne is a detailed writter. His vocabulary use is very elaborate. The novel can get difficult and confusing if you dont stay focused while reading it. Similies and metaphors are scattered throughout the novels also.
In Paradise Lost, John Milton dramatically changes Eve's character from the well-established Renaissance stereotype to an intelligent, humble, and majestic woman. Traditionally, Eve has been condemned for causing mankind's sinful state. Yet Milton rejects such damning views and praises Eve as a heroic individual who defines the Christian doctrines of grace and redemption. In doing so, Milton puts Eve in direct opposition to the only other female in the epic poem, Sin. In this thesis, I propose that Eve and Sin have a distinct relationship: Sin represents the stale stereotypes of the prelapsarian Eve that Milton has rejected.
How is the theme of isolation portrayed in Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Robert frost poetry, with reference to Atonement? Tess of the D’Urbervilles was a novel written by Thomas Hardy, who was a Victorian realist. The novel challenged the ideas and rules of society at its time of release. The theme of isolation runs throughout Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Tess feels that not only has society abandoned her, but god as well. As Victorians viewed pregnancy outside of wedlock, scandalous and the woman’s fault, she was ostracised by society.
The Friar tries to dissuade Giovanni from commencing the relationship despite there being little effect from his words. Annabella is harshly reprimanded by the Friar, so much so that she sees sense to confess to her sins. Despite her confession however, she is still punished grotesquely towards the end of the play. Giovanni does not confess; instead he sees his actions as necessary to deal with the problem that he is the main cause of. The final line “Who could not say, ‘Tis pity she’s a whore?” can be seen as directed towards her and so she is blamed for everything that has occurred.