Scarlet Letter
Symbolism is traditionally a sign or token of something. In the matter
of literature, the definition of the literary device, symbolism, is
more complicated. Symbols of literature are usually metaphysical. The
main symbol of The Scarlet Letter is the red "A" that Hester Prynne was
sentenced to wear on her chest. Nathaniel Hawthorne's intention was to
make the meaning of the crimson token worn on the bosom of Hester
Prynne is highly ambiguous. In this he was successful. Although the
"A" means "adulteress" to the people of Boston, to reader the "A" may
have other meanings such as "American" or "able". To the townspeople,
author, and reader clearly the original intention of the "A" was to
stand for "adulteress". When Hester Prynne became pregnant during the
absence of her husband she was accused and convicted of adultery. Her
sentence was to wear a scarlet letter "A" on her bosom to let everyone
know that she was an adulteress, forevermore. Because of her unique
sentence......
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Approximate Word Count: 687
Approximate Pages: 3 (250 words per double-spaced page)
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