symbolism in the scarlet letter
...shes of the state, church, family and community with regard to her own truth. As The Scarlet Letter states, "Do you not think it is better for your little ones temporal and eternal welfare that she be taken out of your charge and clad soberly and disciplined strictly and instructed in the truths of heaven and earth? What can you do for the child? I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this, laying her finger on the red token. Woman it is thy badge of shame. Nevertheless, this badge taught me...it teaches me daily lessons by reasons of which my child may be better and wiser." Hester is aware of how her truth can set her free. The novel states "...people brought all their sorrows and perplexities, and besought her counsel." This portrays how Hester Prynne's stand for the truth eventually has an affect on the entire community in a very positive manner, changing the community’s perspective on social norms. The character Dimmesdale, the co-adulterer, expresses to be likening with "unutterable torment." Hawthorne depicts Dimmesdale's silence regarding the truth and his love as being worse than any judgment that his community or maker bestows upon him. Later, Hester offers to save Dimmesdale from his jail and jailer. Jail represents the guilt he endures and the jailer signifies Chillingworth, the devil-like character. Dimmesdale refuses the offer and eventually dies of shame and guilt at the end of the novel. Pearl, the daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale, represents the world of nature, truth, a nature-friendly pre-Christian time in mankind's history, and the struggle between the town and the respect for the truth. Her name has great symbolism in itself. The novel refers to Pearl as being, "purchased at a great price." This reveals the suffering the characters expe...