Nature in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthrone of human fragility and sorrow. ~HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne depicts nature primarily throughout his novel, The Scarlet Letter. He sets the setting, tone and mood of the story by opening the book, referring to the prison, "the black flower of civilized society...the graveyard", and an unsightly lawn with weeds invaded. overgrown with burdock, amaranth, Peruvian apple tree and such unsightly vegetation” and a magnificent wild rosebush which, he says, “may serve to symbolize a sweet moral flower, which may be found along the grounds, or to reduce the darkening of the grass. closure to a story of human fragility and grief” (p. 33). The wild rosebush "with its delicate precious stones...and fragile beauty" grows alongside the unsightly grass "rooted [almost at the door of] the weather-beaten, rotten and ugly prison building", built fifteen or twenty years later. the city of Boston was colonized. The "black flower" symbolizes the construction of the prison which represents the strict Puritan crime and punishment which was a ritual aspect of civilized Boston life, and contrasts with the cemetery which symbolizes the cruel punishment which could result in death. The overgrown weeds symbolize “civilization corrupted by the elements” (p. 33), the people who make prison necessary. "The GRASS PLOT in front of the prison, in Prison Lane...where the scaffold is" (p. 34) symbolizes the strict Puritan code of law, the open acknowledgment of sin, shame and punishment by public contempt for all humanity. The magnificent wild rose bush next to the hideous and unsightly weeds symbolizes Pearl, the illegi...... middle of paper ...... red a living hell, imprisoned, publicly humiliated, punished and despised by the inhabitants of the city. and their children. The contemptuous children “the little Puritans” (p. 65) cause great sorrow, bitter hatred and loneliness to little Pearl. Hester felt the pain of rejection and contempt from the right-thinking Puritan people, but not like little Pearl. She tolerated him with dignity and their weaknesses become her strength. She stands proud and tall and is always met with onlookers from the audience and wagging tongues, with Pearl "the little girl, her mother's little companion" (p. 64) living alone in her own little world. Hawthorne's depiction of nature in The Scarlet Letter is used to symbolize the opposing man-made laws and natural laws of nature, to explain the moral, religious and philosophical values and concepts of this complex and confusing story, romantic and yet tragic.

Essay / Nature in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthrone of human fragility and sorrow. ~HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne depicts nature primarily throughout his novel, The Scarlet Letter. He sets the setting, tone and mood of the story by opening the book, referring to the prison, "the black flower of civilized society...the graveyard", and an unsightly lawn with weeds invaded. overgrown with burdock, amaranth, Peruvian apple tree and such unsightly vegetation” and a magnificent wild rosebush which, he says, “may serve to symbolize a sweet moral flower, which may be found along the grounds, or to reduce the darkening of the grass. closure to a story of human fragility and grief” (p. 33). The wild rosebush "with its delicate precious stones...and fragile beauty" grows alongside the unsightly grass "rooted [almost at the door of] the weather-beaten, rotten and ugly prison building", built fifteen or twenty years later. the city of Boston was colonized. The "black flower" symbolizes the construction of the prison which represents the strict Puritan crime and punishment which was a ritual aspect of civilized Boston life, and contrasts with the cemetery which symbolizes the cruel punishment which could result in death. The overgrown weeds symbolize “civilization corrupted by the elements” (p. 33), the people who make prison necessary. "The GRASS PLOT in front of the prison, in Prison Lane...where the scaffold is" (p. 34) symbolizes the strict Puritan code of law, the open acknowledgment of sin, shame and punishment by public contempt for all humanity. The magnificent wild rose bush next to the hideous and unsightly weeds symbolizes Pearl, the illegi...... middle of paper ...... red a living hell, imprisoned, publicly humiliated, punished and despised by the inhabitants of the city. and their children. The contemptuous children “the little Puritans” (p. 65) cause great sorrow, bitter hatred and loneliness to little Pearl. Hester felt the pain of rejection and contempt from the right-thinking Puritan people, but not like little Pearl. She tolerated him with dignity and their weaknesses become her strength. She stands proud and tall and is always met with onlookers from the audience and wagging tongues, with Pearl "the little girl, her mother's little companion" (p. 64) living alone in her own little world. Hawthorne's depiction of nature in The Scarlet Letter is used to symbolize the opposing man-made laws and natural laws of nature, to explain the moral, religious and philosophical values and concepts of this complex and confusing story, romantic and yet tragic.

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