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The Scarlet Letter - Plant Ima - Online Term Paper

The Scarlet Letter - Plant Ima


Throughout the novel, Hawthorne uses plant imagery to symbolize both the negative and positive character traits and to set the mood of the novel. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne takes place during the age of Puritanism in Boston where a young and attractive Puritan woman commits adultery with the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale. Chillingworth, Hesters’ husband, whom everyone thought was captured by Indians comes to town, but only Hester knows his true identity. Chillingworth vows to figure out who Hesters’ lover is and he succeeds. Ultimately, this novel contains deception and guilt which is in the form of plant imagery.
Hawthorne uses many different negative variations of plant ...

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of his grave, he questioned with himself whether the grass would ever grow on it, because an accursed thing must there be buried” (131). In addition, weeds symbolize secrecy and the impurity of society. During Chillingworth and Dimmesdale’s covert discussion about “the powers of nature call[ing] so earnestly for the confession of sin,[and discussing] that these black weeds have sprung up out of a buried heart, to make manifest an unspoken crime” (120) illustrates the idea of weeds filling the heart with sin and guilt. Moreover, “the black flower of civilized society” (45-46) refers to the Puritans harsh attitude towards sinners as they view Hester’s punishment. Most importantly, the imagery used with leaves allows for different interpretations. “Thou shalt forgive me! cried Hester, flinging herself on the fallen leaves beside him [Dimmesdale]” (178) illustrates that Hester begs natures’ forgiveness for her sin by falling on the leaves. Similarly, Hester “threw it [the scarlet ...

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The Scarlet Letter - Plant Ima. (2005, September 21). Retrieved March 28, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Scarlet-Letter-Plant-Ima/33621
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PAPER DETAILS
Added: 9/21/2005 01:53:59 AM
Category: English
Type: Free Paper
Words: 931
Pages: 4

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