Truth In The Scarlet Forest In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Forest The concept of truth is difficult to define, as it is different to everyone. The given definition of truth from the dictionary is “the state or character of being true,” but what does it truly mean in the context of a community (np). Truth is often not revealed and is hidden due to society’s judgement. Usually, when the truth is revealed, people criticize those involved, which causes people to change their sincere selves and keep their truths hidden because of the pressure of society. This occurs in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter. The character Hester Prynne is shunned when her truth comes out, and the judgment is increased due to her living in a Puritan society. It is hard to find truth in a structured society

When in the forest, Hester and Dimmesdale are separated from Pearl through the brooke. The brook symbolizes separation and a division between the two worlds. Pearl’s hesitation and refusal to cross the the brook shows she is against the Puritan society. This is more evidence to the fact that Pearl is a nature figure. It also shows that she is free and not confined by rules. Altogether the brook helps show Pearl’s true inner self. To add the brook symbolizing separation, it also symbolizes the remission of sin when in a different context. Once Dimmesdale kisses Pearl’s brow, she begins “running to the brook, stooped over it, and bathed her forehead, until the unwelcome kiss was quite washed off, and diffused through a long lapse of the gliding water” (Hawthorne 194). In this scene, the brook symbolizes the act of being baptized. Baptism differs depending on the religion. From a Puritan standpoint, baptism has many uses but is mainly used for the remission of sin. Pearl’s action of washing off the kiss enacts that of a baptism. This shows that the kiss is a sin, making Dimmesdale himself a sin. To add to this point, Hester states “‘Once in my life I met the Black Man!’ said her mother. ‘This scarlet letter is his mark!’” (Hawthorne 170). In this statement, Hester connects Dimmesdale to the Black Man. Since the scarlet letter and Pearl are linked,

In the forest, the sunlight literally shines a light on Hester and Pearl’s current status of goodness within them. In literature, light symbolizes goodness, life, and/or hope. When Pearl is walking with Hester, she says “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom” (Hawthorne 168). Pearl realizes this because the sunlight is only embracing her and not her mother, for she also states “Stand you here, and let me run and catch it. I am but a child. It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!” (Hawthorne 168). She dances and plays while the sunlight embraces her. Pearl sees that the sunlight not does shine on her mother because she is not good. Darkness surrounds her which symbolizes the opposite the of light, evil or death. The wickedness inside her mother is pointed out by the darkness. One cause of the gloom is the scarlet letter which represents her sin meaning that the scarlet letter is bad. When Hester removes the scarlet letter from her chest, the sun still not does embrace her but it gets brighter out, which is her step forward to becoming good. She is finally embraced when the feeling of love redeems her. Through the use of sunlight that narrator draws attention to the character's true selves and shows how they change