In the Scarlet Letter, there are several motifs that symbolizes light and darkness. As an author Nathaniel Hawthorne uses imagery and detail to create settings, in which images appear to represent a specific theme. The color red is introduced first, at the beginning of the novel. The rosebush and the letter "A" are the first two items that have a meaning and they happen to share the same color, red. What does the color red symbolize anyway?
While the rosebush stands for innocence, purity and prosperity; the letter "A" is a negative patent that embodies hate, lust, shame and sin. The bush offers solace to the prisoners and it shows them that life will continue and nature always stays beautiful, even when life's difficult. But the Scarlet Letter is the sole embodiment of shame and sin and by wearing this emblem, it picks away at the soul of Hester, causing her to feel burdened. Does Hawthorne intend to match these two items together based on color? Or does it appear that both red's symbolize good and evil because of a mere coincidence?
Maybe the red from the roses represents the same thing as the letter... the individual over the community. The roses supposedly sprang up from Ann Hutchinson, who was imprisoned, so it would make sense for them to represent a break from society. And wouldn't criminals love to see this representation?
Posted by: Lauren R. | 10/27/2011 at 08:40 PM
I think maybe he is trying to say that the color is showing that maybe you had something bad happen to you or you did something bad yourself, but it doesn't mean you are a bad person?
Posted by: Megan W | 10/27/2011 at 09:16 PM
I totally agree with you, Lauren. Pearl is also constantly described as "red", and she is definitely an outsider. While I'm unsure about red being a positive color, I definitely see a theme with it.
Posted by: Rebekah | 10/27/2011 at 09:36 PM
I think that it is associating this way of thinking that red is the representation between good and evil rooted inside human. Red can means purity and beauty but often times we associate red with the devil. But humans are the imperfect organisms from God that were created in his image. But we are constantly in a battle between God and Satan
Posted by: Nicole H. | 10/28/2011 at 12:17 AM
Posted by: Rebekah | 10/27/2011 at 09:36 PM
I love what you wrote here. :)
Posted by: Ashley Cook | 02/06/2012 at 06:24 AM