Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter

Dark and Light Symbolism in the Scarlet Letter

Symbolism often tells us about the mood and tone of a story. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbols of light and dark to represent good and evil, respectively. Darkness is associated with the heavy weight of the letter as well as the burden of living in a society that curses you. It is also associated with evil and this is most easily demonstrated through the character of Chillingworth. Light becomes a symbol for goodness and we see this displayed in the goodness that is taken from Hester and the goodness that is reflected in her daughter. The child that might appear to have ruined everyone's life becomes a source of light to those that love her the most. The Scarlet Letter illustrates how light and dark can represent moods and set the tone for a story.

Light is often used as a symbol of goodness. In The Scarlet Letter, it becomes such a symbol. Once Hester begins to wear the letter, her life becomes darker. This is most predominantly displayed with sunlight that seems to drift away from Hester wherever she goes. For example, when Hester and Pearl are walking in the forest, Pearl notices shade surrounding her mother. She tells Hester, "The sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something" (176). Pearl relates the sun moving away from her mother with the letter on her chest and even tells Hester that she will catch the sun because she does not have anything on her chest. Hester even tells Pearl that she has no sunshine to give her. These scenes indicate that Hester is not associated with anything light as long as she wears the letter. There is no question that the letter has darkened her future. When Hester and Dimmesdale are in the forest with Pearl, with see that light is associated with love and hope. We are told, "No golden light had ever been so precious as the gloom of this dark forest . . .Here seen only by her eyes, Arthur Dimmesdale, false to God and man, might be, for one moment true" (188). Goodness and light are associated with Pearl. We read that she is "very brightest little jet of flame that ever danced upon the earth" (95). In contrast, Chillingworth is associated with darkness. One of the most compelling scenes that demonstrates this is at the conclusion of the novel when we are told about the change that had taken place. Chillingworth looses his strength and energy and shriveled away, "like an uprooted weed that lies wilting in the sun" (251). These symbols illustrate how Hawthorne utilizes dark and light to convey certain mood and tone.