Color Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter

A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray,” the opening lines of Nathaniel Hawthorn’s The Scarlet Letter recognizes color in depicting images into the reader’s mind. The novel unfolds over a span of seven years in Puritan America during the seventeenth century. Moral Justice is tested as the plot revolves around the sin of adultery. The author uses color to Illustrate the significance and symbolism of the emblem “A,” Roger Chlorinating, and Pearl Prone. The adulterer, Hester Prone, Is obligated to wearing the letter “A” as a sign of her sinfulness.

Essay Example on The Color Red In The Scarlet Letter

The emblem is recognized as “fine red cloth surrounded with elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread. ” It Is Important to note that Hester has dark hair and black eyes; therefore, the scarlet and gold of the emblem are focal points to her Image as well as It conveys her sin. The fact that the “A” Is done In gold thread further makes the scarlet letter appear extravagant and Immodest.

The townspeople are recognized for wearing their plain “garment of coarse gray cloth. This exemplifies that the colors of the “A,” being a brilliant gold and scarlet, are in contrast to the common dress of the people. Bystanders are frequently offended because Hester seems to be proud of what should be an emblem of sin. Simply, the color of the scarlet letter portrays its ubiquitous presence throughout the novel.

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Roger Chlorinating, the suspicious physician, is associated with the color black throughout the novel. He is clearly the enemy and is depicted as devilishly evil and cruel. Enemies are most commonly identified with darkness.

Hester, who is scared of him, asks, “Art thou like the Black Man that haunts the forest round about us? Hast thou enticed me into a bold that will prove the ruin of my soul? ” She identifies Chlorinating with Satan, the fugue who tries to get people to sign his book and enlist hem for evil. Pearl later also remarks in the same sense about him being the Black Man in the forest. It is also worthy to note that Chlorinating is not associated with scarlet or red which resembles the letter and Pearl.. Chlorinating even says, “Let the black flower blossom as it may! The black flower is the truth of all the events leading up to who the father is, and who Chlorinating is. The truth is a dark truth. A very symbolic character throughout the novel, Pearl is often associated with the color red .

Most definitely, Pearl has been linked to the letter since birth. The letter Is the first thing that Pearl relates to her mother. Her character as an infant Is recognizable as “the deep stains of crimson and gold, the fiery luster, the black shadow, and the undeterred light. This Is the same as how the letter upon Hester chest Is described. Throughout the novel, Pearl also wears red garments frequently. Pearl’s connection with the color red signaled Hawthorn’s meaning of “life. ” She Is often compared to such things as a “little bird of scarlet plumage” or the “wild roses” that grow by the prison door. Pearl represents red at Its most functioning and high- splatter state. By accepting that Puritan America Is uniquely religious, It Is Important to accept that sinfulness is a tremendous Issue In their dally lives.