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Symbols in The Scarlet Letter
Symbolism plays an important role in many novels. Held with the distinction of implying important themes, symbols add depth to a story. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter takes place in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 1640’s. Embellished with symbols and hidden themes, the novel tells “a tale of human frailty and sorrow” (Hawthorne 46). In addition to human flaw and sadness, the novel reveals inhumane punishment and torture from the government and citizens of Puritan society. All of these subjects are given a deeper meaning through symbols. These symbols help manifest the undertones of man vs. nature. The rose bush, prison, scaffold and brook represent complex and essential symbols in The Scarlet Letter.
Hawthorne first introduces two symbols, the rose bush and the prison, to the reader. According to Bloom, “the rosebush stands for the spontaneous and irrepressible life of nature and instinct, while the prison door stands......

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Approximate Word Count: 989
Approximate Pages: 4 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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