Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter

Possible meanings for

symbols are explored

Hester's Fiery Passion

Morality

How is it defined?

Defiance

Flames of Hell

Purity

Goodness

Tranquility

Temptation

Sinning

Punishment

Acceptance of

Punishment

Sunlight

Pearl

Different from society

Hester is different

from Puritan society

Pearl is Hester's Joy

Darkness

Place of sin

Devil's Playground

Place where Pearl

was conceived

Hester's Sin

Hester can't catch it,

but Pearl can

Happiness

Hester can't feel happiness because of guilt

Pearl has no guilt

Pearl's innocence

Ocean

New Identity

Hester and Dimmesdale speak of new identity across the ocean

Hester talks of throwing A in ocean and removing it

Ocean also changes

Chillingworth's life

Chillingworth's

Deformity

It is evil manifested in his

Angry

Ruthless

Obsessed

Pain from Hester's Act

Dimmesdale Kisses Pearl

Importance of

Involved/present

Parents

Power of

Forgiveness

Love is not

assumed in

a parent-child

relationship

Covered Hair

Self Hatred

Self Punishment

Loss of Womanhood

Stripped of identity

Loss of Freedom

Loss of Beauty

Fallibility of Man

Human/Societal Perfection

is not Possible

Oyster

Pearl's Name

Something so beautiful comes from something so ugly

Concealment

Conceal Secrets

Hide disaster

Hide Hester's

True Feelings/Heart

Mistrust

Acceptance of death/fate

Hiding true identity

Isolation

Secrets

Beards of the men

in first chapter

Cloak of secrecy

What secrets are being held?

Everyone is hiding secrets from everyone else

Mortality

Darkness within

the soul

Legacy of

our lives

Secret sin

Final result

for all people

Hypocracy based

on social status

Tolerance of evil

in a society

Revenge

Red eyes reflect the revenge

festering inside of Dimmesdale

The flames of hell are

represented

in his eyes

Deviance and Corruption

in Puritan Village

Lack of Acceptance

Public flaw,

sins in town

Hiding sins that

are already known

Cruelty of old

Puritan women

Chillingworth's Name

His name is a

symbol of his character

Cold Personality

Not warm with Hester,

although she was his wife

Allows cruelty to consume him

Becomes Frozen in Revenge

Represents structure of Puritan

society

People molded themselves to fit into Puritan ideals

Chillingworth Living in Dimmesdale's Home

Drains strength from his host

just like a leech

Symbol of Dimmesdale's Sin

Guilt from sin

constantly drains him

Prison Door

Rusty with Spikes

Looks old but is new

Heavily used

Crime never stops

Hester's adultery

The Scarlet Letter

Purity

Isolation

Model Puritan Way of Life

Governor's house is

everything Puritans reject

Materialism

Awkward, Uncomfortable, Stuffy

Represents Government

Pressure in Community

All important figures meet inside the house;

this changes how they act.

Public vs. Private Life

Authority

in their community

Open Acknowledgement of Sin

Morality

Puritan Code

Social Norms

Punishment

Hester's Work

Passion

Rebellion

Hester's Redemption

True Goodness

Town's Acceptance

of Hester

Hypocracy

Reject Hester but Accept

Her Work

Ugly WeedS

Chillingworth's

Revenge

Hatred

Lies

Deceit

Regret

Blame

Burrs

Blame

Growth of Passion Cut Off

Hester's Life and Happiness

is now restricted

Stuck with the consequences

of her decision

Ending of Hester and

Dimmesdale'sRelationship

Self-reflection

Reflection of

their true souls

Clear division between

Hester and Pearl

Hester's Cottage

Loneliness

Natural place for those

that live on fringe of society

Natural boundary between

good and evil, right and wrong

Outcast

Lack of acceptance

of those different from ourselves

Flame of Passion

Adultery

Punishment

Higher Power

Red Flames

of Hell

Goodness of being

an individual/self

Connection with Natural World

Child Born of Love

Innocence of Nature

Pearl

Impact of

a Fatherless Home

Evil of Child Born

Out of Sinful Act

Result of Breaking

from social norms

Guilt

Symbolism in

The Scarlet Letter

Created by 11-Honors Students

Fort Atkinson High School

-2010

Man's Imperfection

Hester and Dimmesdale

Pearl -

Hester's shield from society

God

Enables Hester to face

scornful society

Never goes in

public without Pearl

Fall from

Positions of Power

Dimmesdale's Fall

from Highest Social

Position in Society

Hester's Only

Joy

Help

Aid

Guilt

Pearl gives it to

Dimmesdale

Pearl gives it to

her mother

Corruption of Leadership

Guilt

Scorn

Scaffold at night

Dimmesdale stands on

scaffold at night

Darkness hides him,

and his sin

Pearl represents

joy/happiness

Religion is very

important

Hester was humiliated on same scaffold for same sin

Minister's sermon

Fearful of someone

seeing him here

Of great beauty and worth, but outlandish and rare

Suit of Armor

Associated with shame

and with sin

Dimmesdale is

important to citizens

Secrecy

Covering up

Closed off

Hidden sins

Guilt

Brooks represents purity

in the forest

Pearl is separated

from society

Isolation

Dimmesdale and Chillingworth Hide Their Identity

Unwilling/unable

to share emotions

Pearl represents purity

in the town

(an extension of brook)

Devil Child

Ugliness of the witch represents their inner "ugliness"

Married, older women despise Hester because of:

• Her beauty
• Her sin
• Her passion
• Her freedom

There is only one true purity amidst all of the evil

Double click anywhere & add an idea

Happiness

Pearl chases

sunshine

"Society's Sins"

Secret

Sin

Sin

Pearl Kisses Dimmesdale

Definition of Morality

"Internal"

Hester's Sin

Innocence

Sunshine disappears

when Hester approaches

Morality

Choices

Truth

Public flaw,

sins in town

As Hester steps into

sunlight, people see her

adultery/soul

Flaws in

beauty

Truth

Good vs. Evil in

All Aspecs of life

There's always good

in bad situations

Everything Has Faults

Even the Most beautiful things

Morality in an

immoral world

Hester's Beauty

Makes Mistakes

Hope is

always present

Defintion

of Hope

Pearl (a beautiful evil

Innocence

Defintion

of evil