The Rose-Bush In The Scarlet Letter

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The fragile beauty of the wild rose-bush was intertwined with the unwelcoming entrance of the village prison: a heavily timbered oak door, studded with iron spikes. Why would an author associate something so harsh with something so beautiful? The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne reveals the significance of many important symbols throughout the novel. The rose-bush by the prison door, Pearl, and Dimmesdale’s scarlet letter are three of the most concealed and essential symbols in the book. In the very beginning of the story, Hawthorne describes the prison door that Hester, the main character, is behind. He describes the door as “heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes” (pg. ). The jail is “already marked with weather-stains …show more content…
She names her Pearl, “as being of great price, purchased with all she had, her mother’s only treasure” (pg. ). Pearl is perhaps the most figurative of all the symbols in the novel. She represents the price of sin. Hester had to give up a lot for Pearl (her sin): Pearl in exchange for her reputation and her respect from others. She certainly was “of great price.” Pearl also represents a scapegoat. Though Pearl had not done anything wrong, she was frowned down upon the village because of the identity of her mother, an adulteress. Even though Pearl is innocent, she is blamed by others. This is not fair to Pearl. Pearl not only represents those things, but she is someone who asks the right questions at the right time, though she is young, and one would not think that she would understand. Pearl frequently asks, “…what does this scarlet letter mean…and why dost thou wear it on thy bosom…and why does the minister keep his hand over his heart” (pg. ). These are questions that normally someone who is older would typically be asking, so it is a bit strange that little 7-year-old Pearl would ask them, especially the one about Dimmesdale, which she asks the most frequently. Pearl is a symbol of confession to Dimmesdale. She shows very clearly that she will not accept him until he reveals his sin to the public, and removes part of the burden from Hester. Pearl wants Dimmesdale as a father, but she is confused why he refuses to be seen …show more content…
But what about Dimmesdale, the father? He ends up giving himself his own punishment for his sin: his very own scarlet letter. Hawthorne never exactly states that Dimmesdale branded an A onto his chest, but it is implied. In chapter 10, Chillingworth “advanced directly in front of his patient (Dimmesdale), laid his hand upon his bosom, and thrust aside the vestment…” (pg. ). With “a wild look of wonder, joy, and horror,” Chillingworth sees what Dimmesdale has done to himself. He had created a symbol of guilt. Because Dimmesdale never confessed his sin to the public, remorse eats him from the inside out. Dimmesdale decides that the only way to make himself feel better is to punish himself. Whether it is whipping or carving an A into his skin, Dimmesdale beats himself up pretty badly because of his guilt inflicted upon him by lack of confession. This symbol is different than the symbol of Hester’s scarlet letter. Dimmesdale’s sin ultimately marks his body even more permanently than Hester’s. Hester’s scarlet letter can be removed; Dimmesdale’s is with him forever. In the end of the book, to prove that he is the father of Pearl to the entire village, Dimmesdale “tore away the ministerial band from before his breast. It was revealed!” (pg. ). Dimmesdale finally shows his symbol of sin to the people who once called him a holy minister. Because his