Free Essay on Plant Imagery in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Scarlet Letter Plant Imagery Throughout the novel, Hawthorne uses plant imaging to symbolize two the negative and positive character traits and to set the mood of the novel. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne takes place during the age of prudeism in Boston where a young and attractive Puritan woman, Hester, commits adultery with the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale. Chillingworth, Hesters husband, who had been captured by Indians, comes to town, but only Hester knows his true identity. Chillingworth vows to figure out who Hesters lover is and he succeeds. Ultimately, this novel contains deception and guilt feelings which is in the form of plant tomography. Hawthorne uses many different negative variations of plant imagery to illustrate his bases. First of all, living plant life, portraying the torturing of Dimmesdale by Chillingworth, remains evident throughout the novel. For example, when Chillingworth went to the forest to gather herbs he dug up roots and plucked off tw igs from the forest trees (111) which symbolizes how Chillingworth was plucking the life out of Dimmesdale offset by limb. Also, Hawthorne describes grass as pure and without weeds to kill the grass however, when poor Mr. Dimmesdale was thinking of his grave, he questioned with himself whether the grass would ever grow on it, because an accursed thing must there be buried (131). In addition, weeds symbolize secrecy and the impurity of society. During Chillingworth and Dimmesdales covert discussion about the powers of reputation calling so earnestly for the confession of sin,and discussing that these black weeds have sprung up out of a buried heart, to make manifest an unspoken crime (120) illustrates the idea of weeds filling the heart with sin and guilt. Moreover, the black flower of civilized society (45-46) refers to the Puritans harsh attitude towards sinners as they view Hesters punishment. Most importantly, the imagery used with leaves allows for different interpretations. Thou shalt forgive me cried Hester, flinging herself on the fallen leaves beside him Dimmesdale (178) illustrates that Hester begs natures forgiveness for her sin by falling on the leaves. Similarly, Hester threw it the scarlet letter to a distance among the withered leaves, (185) for that instant, her guilty conscience was dying along with the withering leaves. Although Hawthorne uses a great deal of negative plant imagery, the positive plant imagery balances the two. Initially, moss symbolizes the hardships that Hester and Dimmesdale have endured.