Symbolic Meaning in Hawthorns Writings - Term Paper Example

Symbolic Meaning in Hawthorn’s Writings Nathaniel Hawthorne is among the most creative symbolists in the history of American literature. In line with this, an insightful look into his symbolism is quite important for one to have a good understanding of his novels. In literature, symbols often are more often concrete objects used in representing an idea which is broader and more abstract in meaning as well as scope- often a religious, philosophical or moral concept or value. In literature, an allegory is a story whereby characters, events and objects have been given a hidden meaning and are generally used to present some form of universal lesson. This essay will explore the symbolic meaning in the works of Hawthorn. Hawthorne has a unique atmosphere for symbolism in his works especially in The Scarlet Letter. This is because Puritans viewed the world via allegory. For the Puritans, simple events, for instance a meteor passing through the night sky, turned out to be moral or religious interpretations for human events. There were objects, for example the scaffolds which were ritualistic symbols representing such perceptions as penitence or sin. While the Puritans interpreted such rituals into repressive and moral exercises, Hawthorne revolves their translations in The Scarlet Letter. It is worth noting that the Puritan community regards Hester as a fallen lady, Dimmesdale is regarded as a saint, and Chillingworth is regarded as a victim- he is a betrayed husband. However, Hawthorne presents Hester as a lady who is an embodiment of a sensitive creature with emotions and a heart; Dimmesdale is presented as a minister having weak morals and one who cannot be able to confess any nature of hidden sins in him; and Chillingworth as a man who is the worst offender of the human race, single-mindedly chasing an evil goal. The embodiment of Hawthorne of these characters is refuted by the mentality of the Puritans: When the novel ends, even hearing and watching the confession of Dimmesdale, many Puritan community members are still in denial of what they witnessed. Therefore using these characters as symbols, Hawthorne unveils the dismal underside of Puritanism which creeps beneath the public faithfulness. A number of the symbols which Hawthorne uses change their meaning, as per the content, though some are static. Illustrations of static symbols are Reverend Wilson who embodies the Church, or Governor Bellingham, a representation of the State. However, quite a number of the symbols that Hawthorne uses change- especially his characters- depending on the way they react to their sins as well as how they are treated by the wider community. Hawthorne’s characters, light and darkness, the scarlet A, color imagery as well as the village and the forest settings serve as symbols. Characters Hester is an open sinner who shows the effect that punishment has on human nature and sensitivity. She is regarded as a sinful woman, a culprit deserving the humiliation of her sinful choices. Hester struggles to recognize the symbolism of the letter just as normal people usually struggle to make sound moral choices. The irony is that Puritans relate her with a sinful mark and in doing so, they reduce her to lifeless, dull woman whose main color is gray and whose femininity and vitality have been suppressed. During the seven years of her punishment, the inner struggle of Hester alters from a casualty of the branding of Puritans to an influential woman who is in sync with human nature. When Hester comes across Dimmesdale in the forest, Hawthorne says, “The tendency of her fate and fortunes had been to set her free. The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread.” (Hawthorne 267). Given time, the Puritan community even sees the letter as implying “Angel” or “Able.” Her sensitivity with the victims of the society twists her symbolic connotation from an individual whose life was twisted originally to a sensitive and strong woman who respects the humanity of other individuals. During her last years, “the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the worlds scorn and bitterness, and became a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, yet with reverence, too,” (Hawthorne 351). In view of the fact that Hester’s character is tied strongly to the scarlet letter, she is an embodiment of a public sinner who reforms and learns from the sorrowful life she underwent how to value the humanity others. Over and over again, anyone who undergoes a life-changing experience tends to become a survivor with better sympathy and understanding for the losses that other people undergo. Hester is a perfect symbol of such. On the other hand, Dimmesdale is a covert sinner whose private and public faces are two different things. Even as the beadle- which is a symbol of the just Massachusetts Colony- claims that the settlement is a region whereby, “iniquity is dragged out into the sunshine,” (Hawthorne 73), Reverend Mr.Wilson, alongside the colony is amazed at the sanctity and goodness of Dimmesdale. However, inside the good minister, is a raging storm between self-torture and holiness. He is not able to make public his sin. At worst, it is evident that Dimmesdale symbolizes self-centered intellectualism and hypocrisy; he understands perfectly well what is wrong and what is right but he lacks the courage of doing the public act. As soon as Hester informs him that the ship destined for Europe is about to leave in four days, he embraces the timing. He sees it as an escape route. At best, his public righteousness is a contemptuous act when he appears to worry that the congregation that he oversees will recognize his features in the face of Pearl. His inner struggle is intense and he tries to do right. He grasps that scaffold is his shield from Chillingworth, his tormentor. Nevertheless, the very thing which makes Dimmesdale an embodiment of a secret sinner is his redeeming factor. Dimmesdale is humanized by sin alongside its acknowledgement. As a symbol, Dimmesdale represents a secret sinner who has internal struggles with his own soul and he wins eventually. As evident in most of his works, Hawthorne uses “symbols which often are so commonplace and natural as to escape notice,” (Turner and Franklin 151). In another of his works, “The Hollow of the Three Hills,” details are quite sparse and the short story has only a single scene. However, it is worth noting that each item has a symbolic significance. The meanings that these symbols bear tend to be more effectual since they are natural and hence they conceal themselves. Since readers are left to imagine and come up with their own conclusions, most critics feel that the simple use of symbols that Hawthorne is identified with has been best put into use in this short story. “The Birthmark” has an amazing moral. However, it is more obscurely revealed than it is symbolized fantastically. Brownell observes that instead of Hawthorne giving a concrete presentation of the elements in his allegory, he was satisfied with their likelihood as symbols (73). The allegorical and symbolic patterns synonymous with the works of Hawthorne arrive at two distinct conclusions. The symbolism has the lavishness of meaning and is inconclusive, whereas the allegory has simplified characters and strict morals. Hawthorne has always made it clear that his intent is to open contact with the world, and symbolism, not allegory, arose out of this purpose. As seen in The Scarlet Letter, symbolism gives credence to the notion that this is his best piece of work ever. With regard to symbolism, this novel stands out from all the rest of Hawthorne’s works. There is little problem in obtaining a symbolic position, as the focal point of the novel is the written meaning of the symbol. As Feidelson Jr. stated, “The symbolistic method is inherent in the subject, just as the subject of symbolism is inherent in the method,” (69). Hanushek claims that when reading The Scarlet Letter, the reader has to direct his/her attention to the key symbol and not just the adultery that Hester commits (1321). Via these symbols, Hawthorne highlights the isolating impact of sin. In conclusion, it is clear that Hawthorne relishes the idea of symbolism in his works. There are some who see Hawthorne as a flop in the literature arena, while there are others who appear to acknowledge that he perfected his use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter. It is worth noting that symbols are Hawthorne’s trademark. It is natural that his use of symbolism will receive praise from some and be condemned by others. The burning question is, was he really a master of symbolism or did he fail in this art? Perhaps it depends on one’s taste. Works Cited Brownell, W. C.. American prose masters: Cooper, Hawthorne, Emerson, Poe, Lowell, Henry James. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1963. Print. Feidelson, Jr., Charles. "Hawthorne as Symbolist." In Hawthorne: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. A.N. Kaul. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966, pp. 64-71. Hanushek, Eric. "Nathaniel Hawthorne." In Critical Survey of Long Fiction: English Language Series, Volume 4. Salem Press: Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1983, pp. 1314-1328. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. SAT Words from Literature - the Scarlet Letter. Clayton: Prestwick House, 2007. Print. Turner, Arlin and Franklin, V. Benjamin. "Nathaniel Hawthorne." In Concise Dictionary of American Literary Biography, Volume 1: Colonization to the American Renaissance, 1640-1865. Ed. Bruccoli Clark Layman. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, Inc., 1987, pp. 149-164. Read More