Symbolism in

Considered to be one of the great American classics, The Scarlet Letter is a superb example of the use of symbolism to convey a novel’s theme. The emphasis on symbolism in this book is reminiscent of the New England Transcendentalist movement, in which Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the novel, took part. Hawthorne uses the rosebush, Pearl, and the scarlet letter as symbols to convey his themes (sin, guilt, atonement, et al.) in this novel. …

…and Dimmesdale committed and came to stand for the good that society finally found in Hester. Analyzing the symbols used in this story is essential to gaining a thorough understanding of the messages Nathaniel Hawthorne wished to convey. Knowing the rosebush, Pearl, and the scarlet letter itself were symbols, often with more than one meaning, one can interpret most of the significant themes of guilt, shame, evil, and moral change in this classic American novel.