The Scarlet Letter Assignment

Symbols in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter are encountered frequently throughout the novel. Simply noticing the architecture described in the novel of Hester’s town results in finding symbolic context. The prison door mentioned in the beginning of the novel exemplifies the Puritan society. Being made of iron and illustrated to be of great strength, the prison door represents the strict and remorseless Puritan society. The incompatible rose bush on the side of the prison door represents forgiveness. Although the prison is a place of shame and sin, the rose bush is a symbol of grace. Therefore, as a form of introduction to the novel the first pages of The Scarlet Letter informs the reader that in a society of strict laws and sin, there is still hope.  

          Hester finds herself living in the out skirts of town. Although the forest and wilderness seem to be an unholy place to call home, Hester finds the location more than comforting. The wilderness symbolizes the home where evil resides. Hester on the other hand finds her new home free and of less rule or guidance. One associates nature with love and kindness, to be a place where evil is sent to dwell is a contradiction. Hester may have committed a sin but she seems to find the good aspects of her wrongdoing. She recognizes her mistake and with that alone, she was in no need or assistance to confess her mistake. The manner in which goodness finds its way to Hester although she has committed the crime of adultery, symbolizes her natural good.  

          In the introductory of The Scarlet Letter, the Custom House is a symbolic feature of the novel. The tradesmen in the Custom House were not in a stable economic situation, business was slow, and they had to pay taxes on their imported goods. Over the entrance stood an eagle statue, Hawthorne described the eagle as horrifying and unpleasant like. Illustrated as an unwelcoming statue, the eagle on the Custom House symbolizes the unwelcoming of Hester as her sin was revealed. The eagle looks as it was filled with disgust and had an uncaring look that would not sympathize if one were to be hurt. The eagle may have symbolized Hester’s perception of the townspeople in the harsh Puritan society.