Abstract
The Scarlet Letter makes the American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne known all around the world. Hawthorne uses the symbolism so skillful that it enhances the artistic effects of his work greatly. In the novel, the scarlet letter “A” has different meanings at the different times, moreover, the four majors’ names are also having their particular symbolic meanings. This paper approaches the symbolism in this novel from the following aspects: the changing symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter “A”, the different symbolic meaning of the major characters’ names and summarizes the effect enhanced by the symbolism.
Key words: The Scarlet Letter; characters; symbolism
I. Introduction
Nathaniel Hawthorne is considered to be the first greatest American fiction writer in the moralistic tradition. The Scarlet Letter which makes him known all around the world is one of his most famous works. The novel, published in 1850s, is notable for its allegory and symbolism and is regarded as the first symbolic novel in American literature. The story opens with Hester Prynne standing silently on the scaffold in the middle of a town square in 18th century Boston. Hester holding her small child in her arm, with a scarlet letter “A” on her chest is publicly on trial for adultery.
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