Scarlet Letter Test Symbols & Themes Flashcards
Leech
the physician (they use leeches to cure (but they actually end up killing the patient); the physician latched on to Dimmesdale like a leech
pearl
a blessing and a curse; the people see her as the devil; symbol of their sin; second chance for heaven; symbol between link between Dimmesdale and Hester; name pearl meaning of a great price, her mothers only treasure
pearl’s clothing
symbolized the scarlet letter; red like the scarlet letter; cast out pearl because Puritans aren’t supposed to be flashy
The scarlet letter
guilt; sinner; (adulterer—>able)
pearl actions
devil; kind of rude but still smart; she knows what is good but still misbehaves; represent the badness of their sin; reach towards Dimmesdale (because he is the father); she acted this way because she didn’t have any friends so she was an outcast and acted like one
the scaffold
humiliation; Dimmesdale’s vigil; punishment; truth (Hester and Dimmesdale revealed their sins there)
Dimmesdale’s decay
sin; guilt eating at him; keeping it secret is bad (puritans keep secrets); unreasonable to expect people to be perfect
Chillingworth’s changing appearance
old man –> devilish; mischievous; he withers away because of his vendetta; the black men; going for Dimmesdale but getting himself
The governors decaying garden
symbolizes Dimmesdale; Dimmesdale is wilting away like the garden does; foreshadow to governor dying; decaying governors power because people are disobeying
Miss Hibbins
a witch; tempter; messenger from Hell; invites people to the forest (aka hell); always around when something bad happened
prison /prison door
sin; puritan law; puritan standards; once you go in you don’t really come out (stigma sticks with you forever)
the rose bush
hope/joy for the sinner; symbolizes pearl (pearl grew from their sin and the rose bush grew on the prison)
the forest
hell; unknown; truth (where they were open with themselves and others)
hesters cottage
safe haven; comfort zone; isolation; right on the border between forest and the town (so she could choose either way)
indians
outsiders; savages; wild; puritans were afraid of anything they didn’t understand
