Essay on Imagery and Symbolism in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Scarlet Letter  Imagery and Symbolism                 In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes imagery to convey that Dimmesdale offer represent Puritan Society rather than the round character that can be attendn on the surface level. This is seen through the imagery and symbolism of hypocrisy, Dimmesdale as a saviour figure, and the scarlet letter.First of either, Hawthorne parallels the hypocrisy of Dimmesdale to that of Puritan society. Hawthorne describes Dimmesdale as, a viler companion of the vilest, the worst of sinners, even though Dimmesdale is seen as the most holy man in the Puritan community. Puritan society was supposed to be a utopian society and do away with their English traditions. Similarly, as Dimmesdale was supposed to be holy, only they both were hypocritical. Secondly, Dimmesdale portrays the Puritan society by non initially taking his place on the scaffold, Ye have both been here before, but I was not with you and we will stand all three together. The Puritans modeled Dimmesdales hypocrisy, as they were supposed to be a city on a hill for the world to see while they ended up mixing up English tradition with their ideals. While Dimmesdale hid his sin at the first scaffold seen, so did the Puritans when they colonized America. The Puritans faults were not initially that obvious but as time grew on they appeared on their scaffold well(p) as Dimmesdale does. Hawthorne writes about one of Dimmesdales sermons that is, addressed to the multitude a discourse on sin, in all its branches. In Dimmesdales sermons, he spoke out against sin while at the same time he commits this sin, just as the Puritans committed sins that they condemned Dimmesdales character models Puritan society in the way they treat spectral persecution. The Puritans left England to flee from religious intolerance, but when they got to the colonies, they had no religious tolerance for people w ith different religious beliefs. Dimmesdale speaks out against adultery and commits it, the Puritans demand religious tolerance but refuse to give it.Dimmesdale symbolically portrays Jesus Christ in certain ways. For example, Dimmesdales death marked the rootage of a new era, just as Christs death marked a new beginning for all of those who believe in Him. Dimmesdales death symbolically marks the beginning of American History and the end of colonial history, just as Christs death marked the beginning of the Christian church.