The deeper meaning of mere objects in an American classic

Learn about the symbolism within Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic tale of sin, guilt, and redemption.

Some people might view an object with a superficial perspective, and argue that an object is a thing that simply exists. However, critical thinkers are able to analyze those same objects, and attempt to understand how those supposedly simple things reveal larger truths. Symbolism is a common technique that writers employ to explore themes about life itself. Being able to understand such themes involves a deep analysis of how objects evoke abstract ideas. Additionally, symbols might not necessarily be tangible, but they do represent ideas about life itself that are often times intangible. Thus, understanding symbols is an important skill to know so that people can realize what it means to be alive.  In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne employs symbolism to provide elements of fantasy that serve as a reminder of the common bonds that people share no matter where they are within a social construct.

One of the most prominent symbols in The Scarlet Letter is the actual scarlet letter itself, and it reveals a lot about Hester Prynne as it affects both her and other people in her life. The letter “A” has the ability to captivate people unaware of its symbolism, which gives it a supernatural quality. The fantastic element reminds others that Hester did commit a sin, which sets her apart from the rest of the community. The supernatural contrasts with the supposedly natural order of Puritan society, which separates Hester from the surrounding community. Indeed, many people in the town might be aware that the “A” stood for “adultery,” but it is the enigmatic quality of the letter that makes it a prominent symbol.

Furthermore, Hawthorne employs the supernatural in order to give the “A” a sense of a life of its own. The illusion of the “A” glowing reveals how the “A” is actually a part of Hester’s identity. Essentially a social outcast, Hester must suffer from the judgment of society and the pressure to live a good life in spite of her previous crimes. Ultimately, the letter “A” defines Hester to a certain extent and the supernatural quality of that “A” asserts the difference between herself and the surrounding society. Hawthorne employs the supernatural to reveal how Hester truly has her own identity that contrasts with the austere nature of the Puritans. Some people cannot explain the supernatural, but that idea directly relates to the fundamental fact that Hester is different.

Additionally, the symbolic “A” suggests that Hester is a passionate woman. As the people within the society judged her, Hawthorne implies that the glowing letter reveals how Hester cannot escape her past, and the light also suggests that Hester is her own person who contrasts the austere Puritans. Hawthorne suggests that the letter reveals Hester’s passion, which violates the chaste nature of the Puritan people. Hester might be an atypical Puritan, but she can still be herself. Ultimately, Hester has a sense of fire within her, and it is that passion that causes society to reject her because she cannot conform to social expectations.

The rejection of social norms is a truth that characterizes many of the characters within the novel. In fact, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale cannot accept the truth of God because they are both miserable sinners. After a confrontation with Hester, Dimmesdale discusses clothes that symbolically conceal truth. Additionally, the clothing also helps to establish a sense of identity for both Hester and Dimmesdale. He then continues by talking about how the letter “A” ultimately presents a specific kind of truth that Dimmesdale attempts to repress. In fact, the “A” on his own chest represents his psychological pain. Also, the chest is where the heart is, and the “A” on Dimmesdale’s chest suggest that he lacks a basic sense of morality within his own heart. Ultimately, Dimmesdale lacks self-control because his guilt tortures him, which means that the “A” serves as a reminder of Dimmesdale’s own bleak reality—the fact that he is a hypocritical minister who is anything but holy.

The symbols do more than representing abstract ideas, though, because they also reveal the innate atrocity within all people. Hawthorne was fully aware of the superstitious nature of Puritan society, and believes that such ideas are ludicrous when it comes to the generally accepted behavior within society. Because of the argument of the human heart possessing wickedness is a strong assertion, Hawthorne believes that all people are capable of being evil no matter who they are. For example, Hester might be wearing a scarlet letter, but she is still just as sinful as the surrounding society that condemns her. Thus, symbolism within The Scarlet Letter does more than just add deeper layers to the complexity of the novel because it actually helps reveal how all people possess innately wicked qualities no matter who defines whom as a sinner.

Given the idea that everyone is a sinner, that notion suggests that the entire society symbolizes evil because each individual can possess that trait. The relationships between Hester, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale defy what Puritan society accepts. Nevertheless, the social structure that defines Puritan society restricts Hester from achieving happiness because the people condemn her, and regard her as simply an outcast. Furthermore, there is the idea that the entire Puritan society is a symbol within itself. People must meet social expectations, yet the society itself is hypocritical. Hester is not completely happy, especially after Hester admits to hating Chillingworth. Ultimately, the whole society is a symbol that functions as a collective unit that cannot achieve a sense of happiness because they are all fundamentally flawed people who must cope with both their angelic qualities and sinful nature.

In terms of symbolism, the the scarlet “A” does more than just represent adultery. Instead, this prominent symbol serves as a reminder that everyone undergoes trials and tribulations as they attempt to meander through the complexities of life itself. The different opposing pairs of words that Johnson utilizes also suggest that all people possess both a positive attribute and a negative one. No one is completely good nor completely evil, but all people have the ability to live their lives even though no one can ever be perfect. Hester might attempt to disregard her past and help others in spite of her past actions, but she is still a social outcast because the “A” represents a past action that can never be revoked. In a figurative sense, everyone possesses a symbolic scarlet letter because all people have regrets and mistakes, but it is how people respond to the past that defines who they are. Thus, every person is much like Hester Prynne because all people have virtues and vices within them, and a past they cannot change, but can still learn from.

Within the wide range of literature, symbols allowed authors to examine what it means to be human through objects that hold a deeper sense of meaning than the ideas that the objects would superficially evoke. Sometimes the ideas might be abstract, such as the nature of love, what it means to be passionate, and what really is evil in the world. Nathaniel Hawthorne explores such themes that ultimately reveal how people share commonalities even though every person is unique. Additionally, symbolism in literature does more than just explore themes within the human experience. It asserts the basic humanity that defines the human race. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel may have fantastic qualities, but those elements reiterate the bleakness of reality that defines life itself. Hester Prynne’s story might be a romance, but its supernatural elements are just as real as anyone who reads her tale, and it continues to stand the test of time because of its universal nature as the symbols remind people that they are human.