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The Scarlet Letter: A story told through symbols

Many times symbols are used as a form of expression that permits an author to give meaning and life to certain things or objects. Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is an allegory because of its great use of symbolism. Throughout the novel the author uses many symbols in its characters, objects and in nature.
The first example of symbolism presented in the novel is the later " A" on Hester Prynne's chest, which is given to her by the town council when she is accused of adulterer, since she lives in a strict Puritan community this act is seen as a great sin. The opinions of the townspeople when she is first punished are shown in a dialogue between the women, which believe her punishment is too weak; one of the women says, "This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die" (Nathaniel Hawthorne 49) But another young woman believes differently and says, "let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be......

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Approximate Word Count: 757
Approximate Pages: 4 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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