The novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne describes the life of a Puritan woman named Hester Prynne who commits adultery. Hawthorne uses the repetition of various motifs throughout the novel because he wants to convey to the reader that sin should not prevent a person from living.
From the very beginning of the novel, Hawthorne employs the motifs of flowers and weeds in order to juxtapose Hester with Puritan society. While describing the prison as a gloomy and lifeless setting, Hawthorne notes the presence of a rosebush that has “survived . . . the stern old wilderness” and “has been kept alive in history” (Hawthorne 42). As Hester leaves the prison, she, like the rosebush, stands out because of her beauty and radiating presence. Although the rules of Puritan society forbid adultery, Hester, driven by her passion for Dimmesdale, does not abide. Despite her rebellious nature, Hester finds a way to thrive in a conservative society and even becomes the subject of envy from the townswomen. Hawthorne includes the image of the rosebush several times throughout the novel in order to emphasize that although the townspeople do not initially accept Hester, they eventually come to celebrate her differences. In contrast to the rosebush that symbolizes Hester, the weeds symbolize Chillingworth. While Hester publicly accepts the sin she has committed, Chillingworth tries to exact revenge on Dimmesdale for it. As the novel progresses, Chillingworth changes from noble to evil as a result of his quest for vengeance. Because Chillingworth only lives to torture Dimmesdale, he dies soon after Dimmesdale dies. Hawthorne describes Chillingworth after his death as “an uprooted weed that lies wilting in the sun” (Hawthorne 222). Unlike Hester who has openly accepted her sin, Chillingworth did not let go of it. Ultimately, doing so resulted in Chillingworth’s demise. Hawthorne uses the motifs of flowers and weeds to demonstrate the importance of accepting sin and not holding on to it.
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Hawthorne additionally uses the motifs of darkness and light in order to differentiate between evil and good. One of the most prominent examples of these motifs in the novel occurs in the forest. Pearl, characterized by her innocence and unfiltered speech, tells her mother that the sunshine “runs away and hides” from her because of the scarlet letter on her bosom (Hawthorne 157). The scarlet letter symbolizes the sin of adultery. By wearing the scarlet letter, Hester allows her act of evil to define her. Later in the novel, Hester elects to remove the scarlet letter. She realizes that she must let go of the past and tells Dimmesdale that they should not “linger upon it” (Hawthorne 173). Upon removing the scarlet letter, sunshine pours into the forest on Hester. The light that appears after Hester removes the scarlet letter indicates the possibilities for Hester’s future. The scarlet letter essentially prevented Hester from moving forward in life. By removing the scarlet letter, Hester gained the ability to redefine herself. Hawthorne uses the motifs of darkness and light to show that one must move on from his or her past evils in order to do good.
Besides the motifs of darkness and light, Hawthorne also adds images of colors, namely the colors black and red, in order to assert the importance of individuality. In the opening chapter of the novel, Hawthorne describes the prison as “the black flower of civilized society” (Hawthorne 41). The color black symbolizes the sadness and lack of personality caused by the punishment-based Puritan society. Because of the strict rules that exist within Puritan communities, citizens must often suppress their individuality. Hester, however, refuses to do so and as a result, stands out. Similarly, the rose bush stands out when compared to the surrounding prison. Hawthorne notes that the rosebush symbolizes “some sweet moral blossom” in the prison and acts as a relief in “a tale of human frailty and sorrow” (Hawthorne 42). In accordance with this, Hester becomes a valued member of her community and changes the meaning of the scarlet letter from “Adulterer” to “Able.” Hawthorne uses the motifs of red and black to show the importance of individuality in a strict community.
Undeniably, the various motifs that Hawthorne employs in The Scarlet Letter contribute to the theme that sin should not prevent a person from living. The motifs of flowers and weeds demonstrate the importance of accepting sin and not holding on to it. Similarly, the motifs of darkness and light demonstrate the importance of moving on from past evils in order to do good. Lastly, the motifs of red and black demonstrate that people should encourage individuality rather than suppress it. As proven by Hawthorne, motifs play an integral role in developing the themes in a work of literature.
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