Symbolic Characters in S.L.

Within such a plethora of excellent Puritan literature, The Scarlet Letter stands out because of the exquisite use of literary techniques for enrichment throughout. One of these techniques is the use of characters as symbols, to procreate the message of the story within the simple narrative of the daily travails of the characters. This method of enhancing prose appears throughout many popular works from every sector or division of modern literature. Three examples of symbolic …

…turn, the symbol of sin in hiding. Such symbols, appearing within the characters of a popular story, enhance the message of the work. The hidden sin that Pearl symbolizes is the cause of great vengeance, represented by Roger, and the hope exemplified by the young woman is the only way to conquer the shame that is a result of such sin. The beautiful interrelation of such concepts is that which makes Hawthorne's work a classic.