Monday, August 19, 2019
Imagery and Irony in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter Essays -- Scarlet
Imagery and Irony in The Scarlet Letter             Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author of The Scarlet Letter, uses a variety of literary techniques in order to produce energy and invoke the interest of the reader. He creates the mood and the climax of the novel by using the techniques of imagery and irony. Yet, it is his use of symbolism that truly carries the novel.            An abundance of symbolism appears in many different forms, adding interest to the novel. For instance, Hawthorne uses his characters, such as Pearl, as symbols; â€Å"It was the scarlet letter in another form, the scarlet letter endowed with life.†(Ch. VII pg. 103) Pearl is a symbol of the sin of Hester and Dimmesdale. She serves as a constant punishment and living conscience. In addition, Hawthorne uses natural occurrences such as light and darkness as symbols by having Dimmesdale stand upon the scaffold only at night. Darkness, therefore, is a symbol of the concealment of sin, and light becomes a symbol of truth and acceptance of guilt. The use of light and dark occurs many times throughout the novel to place emphasis on the underlying morals. Furthermore, Hawthorne uses everyday objects, such as the brook in the forest, to serve as a symbol. Pearl refused to cross the brook and join her mother on the other side, making the brook a symbol of the boundary between the two worlds of truth and deception. This natural setting is one of the most striking in the novel. By using symbolism in these three forms (characters, natural occurrence, and simple objects) Ha... ...tter it were so, than to hide a guilty heart through life. What can thy silence do for him, except it tempt him-yea, compel him, as it were-to add hypocrisy to sin.† (Ch. III pg. 73) One of the strengths in Hawthorne’s novel is his use of dramatic irony. To the townspeople, this passage appears to be a breathtaking speech that would make any sinner confess, when in truth, Dimmesdale is pleading with Hester to reveal his sin.  The irony in the novel establishes the strife and dismay of the climax.            Hawthorne’s use of the three literary techniques of symbolism, imagery, and irony are what make his novel a masterpiece. By using these three techniques, he allows the reader to find inspiration and morality, visualize the plot, and become absorbed in the work itself.
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