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Essay / Theme of Light and Darkness in The Scarlet Letter
Hawthorne wrote his incredible psychological novel, The Scarlet Letter, not only literally, but also symbolically to completely anchor his powerful ideas in the minds of its readers. Hawthorne uses the sun, the forest, the roses, the scarlet letter, and the pearl to represent deeper thoughts. Throughout the novel, a dark atmosphere surrounds the relationship between Reverend Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne. In every situation in the novel, there is either a light side representing good and truth, or a dark, dark side representing lies told, hidden truth, or evil in general. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Throughout the novel, light is used to make the good characters “shine.” One of the most cheerful and positive characters is Pearl. She is the character most recognized for attracting the sun and in return, she is often attracted to the sun. In chapter 16, A Forest Walk, the novel says: "Pearl strode forward and, as Hester smiled to see, she actually caught the sun and stood laughing in the middle, all lit up by its splendor . and sparkling with the vivacity excited by rapid movement.” Just before, the text says: “Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sun does not love you. He runs away and hides, because he is afraid of something in your bosom” (Hawthorne 174). This is an important page for the reader because it develops the fact that Hester, while wearing the scarlet letter, represents sin and lies, but little Pearl has no secrets and lives her life in broad daylight. Furthermore, the sun symbolizes Pearl's innocence and Hester's lack of innocence, in addition to its representation of honesty, sinlessness, and supposed happiness and peace. Earlier in the book, Hester and Pearl are in the governor's house and Pearl loves the sunlight shining through. the stained glass windows. Afterwards, Pearl asks her mother for some of her sunshine and Hester responds, “No, my little Pearl!” » said his mother. “You must gather his own sunshine. I don't have any to give you! (Hawthorne 88). Again, the sun represents Pearl's innocence. Hester tells Pearl to find her own sunshine and that she has none to give her, because Hester has lost her innocence because of her sin of adultery. Throughout the novel, Hester is not seen much in the sun. She avoids exposure to the sun because it illuminates and exposes the scarlet letter “A” on her chest. Heser was one of the most beautiful and beautiful Puritan women in the city. The sunlight would shine on her almost brighter than on the other Puritans, almost like a halo. However, when Hester committed her sin of adultery, her light and beauty quickly faded. She no longer had the halo shining above her head, but now it seemed as if a curtain of darkness was falling over her soul and presence. Throughout chapters 16 and 17 of the novel, Hester redeemed her Puritan soul and regained her light. She intended to travel to Europe with her partner in sin, Dimmesdale and Pearl. At that moment, she took off her cap and tore the scarlet letter "A" from her chest. A ray of light then fell on her and her breast, revealing her purified soul. She was now almost as beautiful as at the beginning of the novel, no longer carrying that painful weight on her shoulders. When all this was happening, Hester called her daughter Pearl to come and see her but Pearl didn't come and it was as if she didn't recognize her own mother without the scarlet letter on her chest. This symbolizes that Pearl will always be a reminder of Hester's dark life, little.