The Scarlet Letter: A Lesson About Faith and Sin

People make mistakes all the time, but when it comes to society, despite them being no different, they choose to judge anyways. Hawthorne displays irony throughout the story that shows the overall ways of the Boston Society. Hester Prynne, an adulterer, also displays irony and symbolism. Hester has to wear an “A” scarlet letter because she committed adultery. This is one of the most important symbols throughout the story. Over time you start to see the growth of the main characters and somewhat of the Boston setting. A generalization of the Puritans in the Boston setting is also being hypocritical and supposedly strictly religious. Overall the novel shows you the feeling of guilt, betrayal, growth as a person and love that can’t be.

One of the most important symbols in the story is the Scarlet Letter that Hester wears on her chest. She wears it as a punishment for committing adultery and displays the theme of sin. It is also a symbol of shame, but over time the letter’s meaning changes. The letter also starts to represent Hester’s growth and identity instead of letting it shame her. The Boston Society starts to signify the letter “A” as Able instead of Adulterer. For example, “Such helpfulness was found in her...people refused to interpret the scarlet “A” by its original signification. They said it meant “Able”; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength (13.152).” The quote shows that Hester is no longer a “bad” person under the eyes of the society which also displays irony. The society wanted her to wear it to be ashamed and cast out of a “pure” society, but somehow the townspeople end up liking Hester despite her sin. Hawthorne shows a good display of irony in this part of the novel. His use of it is to show how Hester’s mistake is something you can grow from, but the society acts as if they don’t do any mistakes because it is not “as bad” as hers. Everyone commits them, so why judge one person in particular?

Another important symbol in the novel is Hester’s daughter, Pearl. She is Hester’s daughter from the adultery act. Pearl is known to be a living version of Hester’s sin. Although Pearl seems like a consequence of Hester’s mistake, she is Hester’s blessing in life. Pearl sees her mother as her with her sin rather than just Hester which is why she admires her Mother’s letter. For instance, “She is right as regards this hateful token...with these words, she advanced to the margin of the brook, took up the scarlet, and fastened it again into her bosom (19.pg 201).” In this part, Pearl won't go near her mother without wearing the letter. Pearl is perceptive and aware of the lying truth in the people around her. She is aware of her mother’s letter and how people see her. She knows her mother is not the same without the letter for it is the way she was created. The irony is displayed through Pearl as well. She is believed to be Satan’s daughter when in reality she is just a child around people who don’t want to believe they are being wrong. The use of Pearl in the novel is that she is displayed as being more honest than adults.

Many other general symbols bring importance such as a rosebush in Chapter one by the prison door. It shows a deep meaning that there are beauty and hope even in things that seem so wrong. Another general symbol in the novel was the meteor in Chapter 12 as Hester lover’s, Dimmesdale, is standing on the scaffold after the governor’s passing. Deep down Dimmesdale thinks it represents the scarlet letter he is supposed to be wearing like Hester. The community just think it represents the Governor’s goodbye. The irony displayed by the meteor is that Dimmesdale acts like a religious scholar when in reality he is just as sinful as Hester. He is the biggest hypocrite throughout the novel, but in the end, the guilt of his sins causes him to admit “defeat”. For example, “Mr. Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror of mind, as if the universe were gazing at the scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart.” (12, p 139). Hawthorne shows how a mistake can help you grow, or it can psychologically hurt you inside due to the pressures of the society you live in.

People often struggle when it comes to doing what you please. The biggest influence on people’s actions can be the people around them. The Puritan has a huge effect on the plot of the novel and the characters. The Puritans are members of a group of English Protestants and tried to regulate forms of religion. They affect characters such as Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. They try to control Hester’s life because of her sin and she does not allow it. Society is also hypocritical because they all believe in God, but they don’t act like followers. The townspeople talk bad about Hester when their religion is about being empathetic and kind. The Puritans also try to put Hester to shame with her sin, but that only causes Hester’s character to grow. Instead of drowning in her sadness and shame, she wears her scarlet letter with pride. Dimmesdale is also affected but not in a good way. Instead, the guilt eats him up to the point where he starts to torture himself. Overall, they both do the right thing and Hester’s relationship with God is strong. For example, “Thou shalt forgive me!' cried Hester, flinging herself on the fallen leaves beside [Dimmesdale]. 'Let God punish! Thou shalt forgive!” Both the Puritans and townspeople are hypocrites in their beliefs when God is the judge of people’s lives, not them.

Overall, the novel shows many themes such as feminism, guilt, religion and more. Hawthorne’s attitude towards the Puritan view of morality is mixed between disliking and admiring. Although he is empathic and understands Hester’s situation, he somehow admires the Puritans’ strict rules. Overall, the setting of the novel was the feeling of fear and being oppressed. One thing you learn from this novel is you can’t let a mistake take over your life for the worst and there’s no point of hurting someone because of the feeling of betrayal. You can choose to grow from something or let it hold you back.