What Does The Meteor Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

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Kaylee Forbush Mrs. Silver American Literature 10 November 2015 Vengeance: the infliction of punishment in return for a wrong committed; retribution. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne symbolism occurs very often. There are several times when Hawthorn wants us to see the deeper meaning behind the image. Symbolism can mean the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Throughout the novel Hawthorne wants us to see that reality and appearance differ throughout the novel. Symbolism occurs in the meteor, the rose bush, and vengeance from Roger Chillingworth. One of the main symbols in the book is the meteor. "With a singularity of aspect that seemed to give another moral interpretation to the things of this world that they had ever borne before" (12.30). Hester and Dimmesdale are standing on the scaffold together, both holding their daughters hands. When suddenly a meteor sparks across the sky in an “A”. Hester and Dimmesdale, both interpret the “A” for meaning adultery. The town has a different interpretation of the “A”. Since the Governor Bellingham has just passed away, the town thinks that the “A” stands for angel. Hester and Dimmesdale know that God has seen them, Dimmesdale thinks that God has revealed the meteor, to reveal to the entire town his…show more content…
"It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow.” (1.5) The rose bush is outside the prison door, when a sinner goes into the prison they will see it. The rose bush is a symbol to show people even though they are in an ugly situation, that there will some good later on, and of a reminder that there is still beauty in the world. The beautiful rose bush symbolizes the good that will later come. The roses symbolize hope, that if the prisoner doesn't come out of the prison that the last thing they would of seen was the beautiful rose
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