Essay on Light and Dark in The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

Light, Dark, and The Scar permit Letter   Nathaniel Hawthornes bold novel, The Scarlet Letter, effectively employs three major symbols light, dark, and the scarlet letter.  The novel relies heavily on light and dark symbolisation to represent the eternal struggle of good versus evil.                One example of the effective use of light and dark symbolism occurs when Hester and her daughter are walking in the forest, Pearl exclaims Mother, the sunshine does not love you.  It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom.  Now see  There it is, playing, a good way off.  Stand you here, and let me run and catch it.  I am but a child.  It will not flee from me, for I wear no- thing on my bosom only (192)    Hester tries to stretch her hand into the circle of light, but the sunshine vanishes (192).  She then suggests that they go into the forest and rest (193 ).  This short scene actually represents Hesters daily struggle in life.  The light represents what Hester wants to be, which is pure.  The movement of the light represents Hesters constant denial of acceptance.  Hesters lack of surprise and quick suggestion to go into the forest, where it is dark, shows that she never expected to be admitted and is resigned to her station in life.  Another way light and darkness is used in symbolism is by the way Hester and Dimmesdales plan to escape is doomed.  Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the shadows of the forest with a gravenessy sky and a threatening storm overhead when they discuss their plans for the future (200).  The gloomy weather and shadows exemplify the fact that they cant get away from the repressive force of their sins.  It is later proven when Dimmesdale dies on the scaffold instead of leaving with Hester and going to England (269).  A final example occurs by the way Hester and Dimmesdale can no t acknowledge their love in front of others.  When they meet in the woods, they feel that, No golden light had ever been so precious as the gloom of this dark forest (206).  This emotion foretells that they will never last together openly because their sin has separated them too much from normal life.  The scarlet letter also takes many different forms in the novel.  The first and clearest form that the letter A takes is Adulteress.