1. The Scarlet Letter Symbolism

2. Letter ‘A’ Nearly 150 direct or indirect references in novel. But what does it stand for?

3. Adultery The word adultery never appears in the novel. The ‘A’ has different meanings as the novel progresses.

4. Angel In the sky, signals Governor Winthrop’s ascendance as an Angel when he dies.

5. Affection Hester views the A as a reminder of the Affection which the token shields from her heart.

6. Alone The letter isolates her and Pearl from society.

7. Able Hester’s charitable work effect a subtle change in the letter’s meaning; a badge of honor

8. Anguish Symbolizes the anguish Dimmesdale feels until he confesses.

9. Atonement Symbol of atonement once Dimmesdale confesses.

10. Other symbols? Dark vs. Light Motif

11. Dark Motif Puritans Puritans seem cold and rigid Dress in dark, drab colors Grays, browns, and black of town and forest

12. Dark Motif Hester and Dimmesdale ‘A’—sinful; no joy Hester and Dimmesdale live in perpetual shadows (hidden secrets) Dimmesdale on scaffold at night No sunlight shines on Hester—lost her innocence As long as they hide the truth, neither is able to stand in full sunlight. Once Hester picks up the A and Dimmesdale returns to town, darkness again overtakes them, for both have once more taken up their burden of guilt and shame.

13. Dark Motif Roger Chillingworth Chillingworth’s dark nature (evil) emerges as he becomes more obsessed with revenge Chillingworth often linked with “Black Man”

14. Light Motif Letter ‘A’ Brilliant red and gold of ‘A’ Red color offers compassion and finally honesty.

15. Light Motif Sunshine Peal frolics freely in the sunshine One instance of sunlight penetrating the forest and embracing Hester and Dimmesdale—when Hester sheds the A and Dimmesdale agrees to abandon his false position within the church of Boston. Sun appears on Election Day when Dimmesdale mounts the scaffold with Hester and Pearl. As Dimmesdale confesses, he is bathed in sunlight, and the shadow of secret sin is lifted from Hester and Dimmesdale forever. (The two are purged of guilt.)

16. Allegory A poem, play, or story in which the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used to symbolize a deeper moral or spiritual meaning. The use of symbolism to illustrate truth or a moral. Why is this novel considered an allegory?