The Nature of the Heart in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter...

The Nature of the Heart in The Scarlet Letter Sacrificing of the soul and dedication can lead to suffering for some, but meaning in life for others. This is the main theme of The Scarlet Letter,by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The story takes place in the seventeenth century in Puritan New England. The main character of the legend is Hester Prynne, who has an affair with Arthur Dimmesdale, the minister, and they produce Pearl. Hesters husband, Roger Chillingworth is the town physician. He is seen as the healer, collecting magical herbs to make medicine. Hawthorne twists the purpose of the physician by turning these healing powers into vengeance for an unhappy man. Hawthorne takes the theme and symbolizes the different†¦show more content†¦She would often seclude Pearl from the world outside of their backyard. Immediately, one can associate Pearl with the rosebush in nature because of the comfort she tries to provide her mother. Pearl was also referred to as a flittering young bird. A reader can interpret this image as Hester seeing Pearls freedom. Hester realizes that she will never regain her freedom. The most obvious symbolism Hawthorne uses is that of the scarlet letter upon Hesters breast. In various scenes, wise, old travelers interpreted the A to mean angel and able. They said this because Hester was so kind to strangers and able to carry on, despite her harsh punishment. In another scene, Hester and Pearl are traveling near the towns church when Pearl paused to gather prickly burrs . . . . She arranged them along the lines of the scarlet letter (152-53). Pearl also made an A out of seaweed when they were near the ocean and put it upon her own breast. To the reader, the scar of the scarlet letter doesnt seem as painful as the constant reminder of young Pearl. Pearl was her reality of sin (89). Throughout the story, the minister thinks of the future and how he will be received at his death. At one point he ponders about his grave . . . whether the grass would ever grow on it (164). One can interpret this as his fear of nature despising him. When in reality it is he who fears nature. Then, after he confesses in theShow MoreRelated The Symbolic Use of Nature in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter1376 Words   |  6 PagesUse of Nature in The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚     In Nathaniel Hawthornes classic The Scarlet Letter, nature plays a very important and symbolic role.   Hawthorne uses nature to convey the mood of a scene, to describe characters, and to link the natural elements with human nature.   Many of the passages that have to do with nature accomplish more than one of these ideas.   All throughout the book, nature is incorporated into the story line. 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Hesters sin causes Nature to accept Pearl. Read MoreCompare And Contrast Scarlet Letter And Young Goodman Brown1485 Words   |  6 Pagesto its restrictive nature –surrender their minds to its malevolent manner. When blindsided by someone they trust, one feels extreme anger or profound betrayal, such as Hester’s newfound optimism despite society’s attempt to humiliate her and Goodman Brown’s hopelessness after seeing people he trusts conversing with the devil. In Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester gains a new strength from the letter A after recognizing the evil nature of Puritan society. Whereas in Hawthorne’s â€Å"Young Goodman Brown