Scaffold vs. Foliage essays

Scaffold vs. Foliage essays Nathaniel Hawthorne, an author who is known for his wordy novels, such as The Scarlet Letter, chooses to include symbolism as a great aspect of his writing. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses the symbols of the scaffold and the forest to depict the battles, which have challenged many of the characters internally. The scaffold in the center of the market place represents the harsh reality of the Puritan society. The forest, which is dark and gloomy, symbolizes the moods of some characters, as well as, an escape from the harsh judgment of civilization. Arthur Dimmesdale, a distressed individual, is troubled by the guilt that eats away at his mental and physical health. His dilemma and his struggles against his sin become evident in three scaffold scenes. In each of theses scenes, a progression is formed in which Dimmesdale first denies then accepts and finally conquers his sin. To Hester Prynne, the scaffold represents shame and punishment of her wrong doings. With the suffering of Hester, guilt and regret overcome Dimmesdale. The Scaffold is the symbol of redemption and judgment. In Chapter 3, Hester is sentenced to stand on the scaffold before God and her peers to receive judgment. In the middle of the book, Dimmesdale is able to stand up on the scaffold in the dead of night only to share his guilt with the sleeping town. At the end, Dimmesdale is able to gain the strength to confess his sin to town during day so that he may be spared of the guilt that ate away at his every bit of life in him. Without an escape, Hawthornes characters would have never come to life completely. This is the importance an idea such as the forest. In the forest, truth is embraced rather than forbidden. The knowledge that Hester has of the truth is a somewhat of a threat to the townspeople. That is why Hester and her daughter, Pearl, chose to live outside of town and outside of the forest so that they can ...