The Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter

This thesis attempts to expound Hawthorne's employment of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter through the analysis of the scarlet letter "A", the characters and the settings. It also explores Hawthorne's conflicting views on the world, and demonstrates that he is both an heir and a critic of Puritanism. Hawthorne also found much in transcendental thoughts to attract him, including its radicalism, its stress on the soul, the individual, self-reliance and independence.The introduction presents Hawthorne's short biography, his achievements and position in American literature, and gives an account of the background and main content of story. It also introduces the use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter, to be discussed in more detail in the following chapters.The first chapter discusses the symbol of the color red and the multi-layered meanings of the letter "A". The symbolic meanings of the letter change with the development of the story, and are different to various characters. Around the letter have gathered not only the explicit associations of "Adulteress", "Able", "Affection" "Angel", and "Arthur", but also the myriad subtle suggestions of "Art", "Atonement", "Ascension", and the "Acts of the Apostles". The capital letter serves as a central symbol. The image runs through the book and helps to establish the symbolic structure of the novel.The second chapter concentrates on symbols of the settings, such as the scaffold, which is the dominating point at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the story. Besides the three dominant scaffold scenes, Hawthorne also describes other vivid settings, like the prison, the wildrosebushes, the sunshine, the brook and the forest, all of which are significant and unforgettable.The third chapter deals with the symbolic meanings of characters in the story. Through symbols, Hawthorne presents the psychological aspect of the characters. The symbols are also used for the readers to study the psychological reactions of the victims and to probe into the depths of personality.The conclusion studies Hawthorne's psychological conflicts, which are sources of multi-layered symbolic meanings. In this part, Hawthorne's techniques, especially his symbolism, is further investigated. Meanwhile, it raises issues that need further exploration. Hawthorne's influence in literature goes far beyond his time. The Scarlet Letter is an excellent example of romantic literature of the 19th century, a masterpiece of profound and lasting .significance. His portrayals of the struggle of the human soul have made him an outstanding figure in the history of world literature.