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The Scarlet Letter: Symbolic characters Symbolic characters are very important in most powerful novels. One classic that uses characters as symbols is The Scarlet Letter. This novel is about a woman in Puritan society, Hester, who commits adultery with her minister, Arthur Dimmesdale. She has a daughter, Pearl, and is forced to wear a scarlet letter the rest of her life. Dimmesdale hides his sin and becomes extremely troubled. Hester's husband, Chillingsworth, takes it upon himself to judge and punish Dimmesdale for his sin and becomes like the devil.
Many characters in the novel are symbols for something. Three characters that are symbolic are Roger Chillingsworth, Hester Prynne, and Pearl. One character in the story that is symbolic is Chillingsworth, Hester's husband. He is the symbol of revenge.
When the reader first meets Chillingsworth, he is a mostly normal man. He was small in stature, with a furrowed visage, which, as yet, could hardly be termed aged. There was a remarkable intelligence in his features (p. 56). The only unusual trait of his is a slight deformity of the shoulder.
He is an intelligent man who spent most of his time reading. When he finds out that Hester has been unfaithful to him, he vows to take revenge on the man who sinned with her. Later he finds out that the man is Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and begins to plot a revenge. His life becomes consumed with the carrying out of this revenge. He himself sins as he tries to destroy Dimmesdale's soul. Chillingsworth soon comes to resemble the devil.
He even notices this similarity in himself. He says, I have already told thee what I am! A fiend! (p. 158). Hester also says that she pities him, for the hatred that has transformed a wise and just man to a fiend. (p. 159). Each of them recognize that Chillingsworth's life is centered around hatred and revenge and it made him like the devil. The symbol working in Chillingsworth, living to destroy, shows that tearing down another person causes as much damage to ones own life.
Roger is the symbol of a life consumed by desire for revenge. Another symbolic character in the story is Hester Prynne. This young woman commited adult while waiting on her husband, and everyone found out. The towns women did not like her at all. They would stand in a circle in front the jail and gossip about her. What think ye gossips?
If the hussy stood before the five would she come off with such sentence I trow not! (page 48). They thought the punishment she got was not enough, they wanted to punish her more severely. Not only did the towns women not like her, but everyone ignored her completely. She tried not to show any sign of weakness for example, when she stood on the scaffold, she took the baby on her arm, and, with a burning blush, and yet a haughty smile, and a glance that would not be abashed. (page 50). She stood strong against those women. She knew if she were to act as if she were ashamed of her sin, they would have eaten her alive.
Near the end of the book, she became stronger, In this matter of Hester Prynne, there was neither irritation nor irksomeness. She never battled with the public but submitted, uncomplainingly, to its worst usage; she made no upon it, in requital for what she suffered; she did not weigh upon its sympathies. (Pg. 147). She learned to accept her sins and move on. People also started coming to her for help.
The A she wore so proudly now stood for Able not Adult. Hester is the symbol of strength and beauty. Another character who is symbolic is Pearl, who symbolizes secret sin. Pearl is wild and uncontrolled like the passion that caused the sin.
Throughout most of the book, Pearl is wild. When she is in the forest with her mother, she fits in with the wild things and they seem to accept her. the mother forest, and these wild things which it nourished, all recognized a kindred wildness in the human child. (p. 188). Nature recognizes in Pearl a wildness.
Also, Pearls character is described as developing, the steadfast principles of an unflinching courage, an uncontrollable will, a sturdy pride (p. 165) All of these characteristics relate to sin, especially sin that is not recognized. While committing the sin, a person has strong will, pride, and courage just like Pearl does. Pearl is wild and passionate. Also, when the sin is discovered, Pearls character changes dramatically. Before, Pearl had been wild and almost insensitive, when her father, Arthur, finally admits he is Pearls father and is dying, Pearl changes.
Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her fathers cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. (p. 233) Pearl is not wild after this experience. Instead she is sensitive and calm. As soon as Pearl, or the sin, is acknowledged she is no longer wild and passionate but controlled, calm, and happy. Pearl is the symbol of hidden sin.
In the Scarlet Letter, each characters symbolism adds a deeper meaning to the book and allows for more strong themes to be created or interpreted in the novel. Hester's crime, Dimmesdale's secret sin, Pearls wildness, and Chillingsworth vengeful spirit were just pieces of the puzzle, and when put together made a excellent story.
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Research essay sample on Character In The Story Hester Prynne
