As the two wayfarers came within the precincts of the town, the children of the Puritans looked up from their play,--or what passed for play with those sombre little urchins,--and spake gravely one to another:--
"Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter; and, of a truth, moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running along by her side! Come, therefore, and let us fling mud at them!"
This Scene society dosen't like Hester becasue she waears the scarlet letter. she has sin therefore society thinks there better then she is when she dosen't feel any remorse for her actions. The symbol is the A that Hester has to wear.
The A was supposed to make Hester feel sorry for what she did however it make her feel that Chillingworth is the one that has comited the worst crime by making her marry him. And society makes her feel the same way by throwing mud at her. I guess Hawthorne is trying to say that society looks at a certain person as bad and terrible but they really are the worst offenders of them all. so zip it up and zip it out
As the two wayfarers came within the precincts of the town, the children of the Puritans looked up from their play,--or what passed for play with those sombre little urchins,--and spake gravely one to another:--
"Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter; and, of a truth, moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running along by her side! Come, therefore, and let us fling mud at them!"
This passage is a symbol of how society views Hester and pearl, which is at the lowest level of society. These are only children and yet they fling mud at them, representing that Hester and Pearl are as worthless as dirt. The message Hawthorne is trying to give us is that the Puritan society greatly looked down on adulterers. Society does not view Hester and Pearl as equals in any way, even children understand or believe that they are better than them. This symbol has a counterpart; It depends on who has commited such a crime, like adultery, in which society views as bad or good. When Dimmesdale confessed his sin he's kept inside for 7 years, many people did not want to believe it and chose not too while others wanted to not ruin his reputation and said that he was creating a parable. This symbol relates to how the puritan society views hated crimes and their views on highly respected leadership commiting such crimes.
More than once, he had cleared his throat, and drawn in the long, deep, and tremulous breath, which, when sent forth again, would come burdened with the black secret of his soul. More than once--nay, more than a hundred times--he had actually spoken! Spoken! But how? He had told his hearers that he was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest, the worst of sinners, an abomination, a thing of unimaginable iniquity; and that the only wonder was, that they did not see his wretched body shrivelled up before their eyes, by the burning wrath of the Almighty! Could there be plainer speech than this? Would not the people start up in their seats, by a simultaneous impulse, and tear him down out of the pulpit which he defiled? Not so, indeed! They heard it all, and did but reverence him the more. They little guessed what deadly purport lurked in those self-condemning words. "The godly youth!" said they among themselves. "The saint on earth! Alas, if he discern such sinfulness in his own white soul, what horrid spectacle would he behold in thine or mine!"
This quote from chapter eleven is describing Rev. Dimmesdales wanting to reveal his hidden sins to the congregation, and whenever he comes close to doing so, the townspeople see this as telling them that their sins would be dispicable to a preecher whom they believe can do no wrong. The symbol that relates to society in this quote is Dimmesdale himself. This scene represents society assuming something without any facts to base their opinions on. This symbol fits into the greater message of the book because all throughout Dimmesdale's life, even after his death when his sin has been revealed, the townspeople continue to paint a greater picture of him in their minds of who they want him to be, rather than what he actually is. The way that the novel ends does not change the symbolism of Dimmesdale and the town, rather it increases in the amount that the people take information given to them and revise it to mean something completly different than it's original purpose. The opposite symbol to this would be the way that the town treats Hester and how they think of her. Because of the sin she commited and the constan reminder she wears, society refuses to treat her as a normal person despite all of her good deeds. I think that what Hawthorne is trying to say about this symbolism is that society often will take the original information that it is given and manipulate it to make the information seem like something other than what it was intended to mean.
By this time Pearl had reached the margin of the brook, and stood on the farther side, gazing silently at Hester and the clergyman, who still sat together on the mossy tree-trunk, waiting to receive her. Just where she had paused the brook chanced to form a pool, so smooth and quiet that it reflected a perfect image of her little figure, with all the brilliant picturesqueness of her beauty, in its adornment of flowers and wreathed foliage, but more refined and spiritualized than the reality. This image, so nearly identical with the living Pearl, seemed to communicate somewhat of its own shadowy and intangible quality to the child herself. It was strange, the way in which Pearl stood, looking so steadfastly at them through the dim medium of the forest-gloom; herself, meanwhile, all glorified with a ray of sunshine, that was attracted thitherward as by a certain sympathy. In the brook beneath stood another child,--another and the same,--with likewise its ray of golden light. Hester felt herself, in some indistinct and tantalizing manner, estranged from Pearl; as if the child, in her lonely ramble through the forest, had strayed out of the sphere in which she and her mother dwelt together, and was now vainly seeking to return to it.
This is the scene where Pearl stands on the other side of the brook, staring at Dimmesdale and Hester. This is a symbol of Pearl's detachment from society, she is embraced by nature itself.
This scene is important to Pearl's views because she is covered in flowers and other plants, and the animals had greeted her without running away. Pearl is herself in nature, not the spontaneous and sometimes immature child she is around the town. Hawthorne shows Pearl as the 'rebel' of Puritan society, she hates it and chooses nature, instead, as her real home. A counter symbol is society itself, shutting off nature completely and focusing on the people and how they think. Pearl feels free in nature because there are no laws to restrain her, or people to make her think one particular way. I think this symbol can relate to the native americans, even though they didn't have as structured a society as the Puritans, they thrived in nature, they lived amongst it. I think Pearl is the symbol of freedom from society, and is showing nature is the only habitual place to live.
As the two wayfarers came within the precincts of the town, the children of the Puritans looked up from their play,--or what passed for play with those sombre little urchins,--and spake gravely one to another:--
"Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter; and, of a truth, moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running along by her side! Come, therefore, and let us fling mud at them!"
In this scene, all the townspeople, think that that are higher in society than hester, only because of her sin.The best symbol, is the scarlet letter that heseter wears on her chest.
The letter represents a mistake of her past, and it represents sin. The book makes it out to later, not even matter to hester. she sort of would rather wear it, instead of have it off.
The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison.
This quote is given before any charcters or plot is given to the reader. This quote is used to prepare the reader for what some of the main ideals of the novel is about.
The jail and the cemetery are two things that people never want to think about or go to. Howver they are part of everyday society.No matter how perfet a society tries to be they will always need a jail and a cemtery. As crime and death is normal. The jail and the cemtery represent they bleak side of society. Where the opposite given in the book would be the church, a place of good intentions and the place where people can reach salvation. What Hawthorne is ultimately saying is that no utopia can be perfect. This fit into the book as Hester, a person who does good deeds, has commited sin and that Dimmesdale, a beloved pastor, has commited sin. These two people have sined in soceity that shows itself as being pure. In a way the Scarlet Letter is linked to the prison and the cemtery. As the letter caused Hester to go to prison and the letter follows Hetster to the grave (cemetery).
But Hester Prynne, with a mind of native courage and activity, and for so long a period not merely estranged, but outlawed, from society, had habituated herself to such latitude of speculation as was altogether foreign to the clergyman.
This quote shows what society has done to Hester. By society shunning Hester and "outlawing" her it has changed her completely. So much so that Dimmesdale hardly even recognizes her.
This quote is shown to be true when in the conclusion Hester returns and all that is recognized about her is the scarlet letter. This shows that the town only knows who she is and what she is about because of the scarlet letter.
in a way, the symbol is indirectly the scarlet letter. this letter is societies stamp on Hester Prynne and they decided that is who she will be. by them setting her a part in this negative way they made her like an untouchable, to contamenated to converse with in oublic. throughout the novel the towns seal of disapproval is constantly upon hester, and it obviously altered her completely.
the symbol of the towns disgrace through the scarlet letter shows that society can change you one way or another. who knows what would have happened to hester if the town never found out about her affair with dimmesdale. the whole novel is about the scarlet letter and the toil it took upon hester publiclly and privately. in the conclusion when hester returns wearing the scarlet letter it shows just how much the scarlet letter became a apart of her. she was so accustomed to wearing it and being talked about while wearing it that she felt like it was necessary to have it on while she lived in the town, even though it was years in the past.
Pearl, without responding in any manner to these honey-sweet expressions, remained on the other side of the brook. Now she fixed her bright, wild eyes on her mother, now on the minister, and now included them both in the same glance; as if to detect and explain to herself the relation which they bore to one another. For some unaccountable reason, as Arthur Dimmesdale felt the child's eyes upon himself, his hand--with that gesture so habitual as to have become involuntary--stole over his heart. At length, assuming a singular air of authority, Pearl stretched out her hand, with the small forefinger extended, and pointing evidently towards her mother's breast. And beneath, in the mirror of the brook, there was the flower-girdled and sunny image of little Pearl, pointing her small forefinger too.
In this scene, Pearl represents what Hawthorne ultimatelly wants for us to accomplish, to be almost separate from society's ways, and to keep traditions that you are accustomed to.
In a way, the symbol is directly Pearl. She is separating herself more and more from Hester, who is representing society herself in a more indirect way. As Hester changes throughout the novel, i.e. just as society changes over time, Pearl generally gets broader away from her as time progresses.
"Pearl still pointed with her forefinger; and a frown gathered on her brow; the more impressive from the childish, the almost baby-like aspect of the features that conveyed it. As her mother still kept beckoning to her, and arraying her face in a holiday suit of unaccustomed smiles, the child stamped her foot with a yet more imperious look and gesture. In the brook, again, was the fantastic beauty of the image, with its reflected frown, its pointed finger, and imperious gesture, giving emphasis to the aspect of little Pearl."
In this scene, Dimmesdale has met up with Hester and Pearl in the forest. Hester has cast away her scarlet letter, and because of that, Pearl will not return to her.
This scene is very important to the overall theme of the book. Essentially, the symbol is Pearl's resistance to return to her mother when she is not wearing the scarlet letter. Hawthorne uses this to tell us that we should not hide from what we have done and who we truly are. Society as a whole does this, but Hawthorne tells us not to be ashamed. Pearl knows that this Hester is giving in to society, so she does not return until Hester places the scarlet letter back where it belongs.
"It might be, too, that a witch, like old Mistress Hibbins, the bitter-tempered widow of the magistrate, was to die upon the gallows." (from chapter 2, Hawthorn's explanation of punishment in Puritan society)
Mistress Hibbins, in this instance, and throughout the novel, gives a name to the average puritan member of society. Hawthorne seems to always have Mistress Hibbins in scenes giving a voice to the puritan masses regarding Hester. I think Hawthorne is trying to make us see that the puritans, although they're extremely different from our society, aren't as dumb as we'd like to think.
Little Pearl—who was as greatly pleased with the gleaming armor as she had been with the glittering frontispiece of the house—spent some time looking into the polished mirror of the breast plate. “Mother,” cried she, “I see you here. Look! Look!” Hester looked, by way of humoring the child; and she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it. Pearl pointed upward, also, at a similar picture in the head-piece; smiling at her mother, with the elfish intelligence that was so familiar an expression on her small physiognomy. That look of naughty merriment was likewise reflected in the mirror, with so much breadth and intensity of effect, that it made Hester Prynne feel as if it could not be the image of her own child, but of an imp who was seeking to mould itself into Pearl's shape.
Hester had gone to Governor Bellingham’s house to talk about the fate of pearl. While they were looking around his mansion, they saw the armor from his family. Pearl wanted Hester to look at the armor, so Hester looked into the breast plate. In the plate she saw her enlarged scarlet letter. She also saw that Pearl looked like an imp in the armor.
The armor represents many things in this passage, but the symbolism that deals with society is that the armor symbolizes the town’s view of Hester and Pearl. The town judges Hester by her scarlet letter, and the letter is enlarged in the armor. The town views Pearl as a devil child, because she was conceived through a sin (adultery).
The message of the book that is seen in this message is that the puritans judged people by what they have done. Since Hester committed adultery, she is seen as an adulteress, and only that. Hawthorne is trying to communicate how Puritan society is very judgmental when it comes to sinners. When Dimmesdale reveals his sin, he also shows his version of the scarlet letter. Because of the Puritans’ judgment of sinners, they were astonished that it would have to apply to their beloved minister. There is not an opposite symbol of the armor because the Puritan’s view of sinners never changes. The Puritans themselves are a symbol that is similar to the armor. They both symbolize the Puritan view of sinners, especially major sinners.
As the two wayfarers came within the precincts of the town, the children of the Puritans looked up from their play,--or what passed for play with those sombre little urchins,--and spake gravely one to another:--
ReplyDelete"Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter; and, of a truth, moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running along by her side! Come, therefore, and let us fling mud at them!"
This Scene society dosen't like Hester becasue she waears the scarlet letter. she has sin therefore society thinks there better then she is when she dosen't feel any remorse for her actions. The symbol is the A that Hester has to wear.
The A was supposed to make Hester feel sorry for what she did however it make her feel that Chillingworth is the one that has comited the worst crime by making her marry him. And society makes her feel the same way by throwing mud at her. I guess Hawthorne is trying to say that society looks at a certain person as bad and terrible but they really are the worst offenders of them all. so zip it up and zip it out
As the two wayfarers came within the precincts of the town, the children of the Puritans looked up from their play,--or what passed for play with those sombre little urchins,--and spake gravely one to another:--
ReplyDelete"Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter; and, of a truth, moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running along by her side! Come, therefore, and let us fling mud at them!"
This passage is a symbol of how society views Hester and pearl, which is at the lowest level of society. These are only children and yet they fling mud at them, representing that Hester and Pearl are as worthless as dirt.
The message Hawthorne is trying to give us is that the Puritan society greatly looked down on adulterers. Society does not view Hester and Pearl as equals in any way, even children understand or believe that they are better than them. This symbol has a counterpart; It depends on who has commited such a crime, like adultery, in which society views as bad or good. When Dimmesdale confessed his sin he's kept inside for 7 years, many people did not want to believe it and chose not too while others wanted to not ruin his reputation and said that he was creating a parable. This symbol relates to how the puritan society views hated crimes and their views on highly respected leadership commiting such crimes.
More than once, he had cleared his throat, and drawn in the long, deep, and tremulous breath, which, when sent forth again, would come burdened with the black secret of his soul. More than once--nay, more than a hundred times--he had actually spoken! Spoken! But how? He had told his hearers that he was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest, the worst of sinners, an abomination, a thing of unimaginable iniquity; and that the only wonder was, that they did not see his wretched body shrivelled up before their eyes, by the burning wrath of the Almighty! Could there be plainer speech than this? Would not the people start up in their seats, by a simultaneous impulse, and tear him down out of the pulpit which he defiled? Not so, indeed! They heard it all, and did but reverence him the more. They little guessed what deadly purport lurked in those self-condemning words. "The godly youth!" said they among themselves. "The saint on earth! Alas, if he discern such sinfulness in his own white soul, what horrid spectacle would he behold in thine or mine!"
ReplyDeleteThis quote from chapter eleven is describing Rev. Dimmesdales wanting to reveal his hidden sins to the congregation, and whenever he comes close to doing so, the townspeople see this as telling them that their sins would be dispicable to a preecher whom they believe can do no wrong. The symbol that relates to society in this quote is Dimmesdale himself. This scene represents society assuming something without any facts to base their opinions on. This symbol fits into the greater message of the book because all throughout Dimmesdale's life, even after his death when his sin has been revealed, the townspeople continue to paint a greater picture of him in their minds of who they want him to be, rather than what he actually is. The way that the novel ends does not change the symbolism of Dimmesdale and the town, rather it increases in the amount that the people take information given to them and revise it to mean something completly different than it's original purpose. The opposite symbol to this would be the way that the town treats Hester and how they think of her. Because of the sin she commited and the constan reminder she wears, society refuses to treat her as a normal person despite all of her good deeds. I think that what Hawthorne is trying to say about this symbolism is that society often will take the original information that it is given and manipulate it to make the information seem like something other than what it was intended to mean.
By this time Pearl had reached the margin of the brook, and stood on the farther side, gazing silently at Hester and the clergyman, who still sat together on the mossy tree-trunk, waiting to receive her. Just where she had paused the brook chanced to form a pool, so smooth and quiet that it reflected a perfect image of her little figure, with all the brilliant picturesqueness of her beauty, in its adornment of flowers and wreathed foliage, but more refined and spiritualized than the reality. This image, so nearly identical with the living Pearl, seemed to communicate somewhat of its own shadowy and intangible quality to the child herself. It was strange, the way in which Pearl stood, looking so steadfastly at them through the dim medium of the forest-gloom; herself, meanwhile, all glorified with a ray of sunshine, that was attracted thitherward as by a certain sympathy. In the brook beneath stood another child,--another and the same,--with likewise its ray of golden light. Hester felt herself, in some indistinct and tantalizing manner, estranged from Pearl; as if the child, in her lonely ramble through the forest, had strayed out of the sphere in which she and her mother dwelt together, and was now vainly seeking to return to it.
ReplyDeleteThis is the scene where Pearl stands on the other side of the brook, staring at Dimmesdale and Hester. This is a symbol of Pearl's detachment from society, she is embraced by nature itself.
This scene is important to Pearl's views because she is covered in flowers and other plants, and the animals had greeted her without running away. Pearl is herself in nature, not the spontaneous and sometimes immature child she is around the town. Hawthorne shows Pearl as the 'rebel' of Puritan society, she hates it and chooses nature, instead, as her real home. A counter symbol is society itself, shutting off nature completely and focusing on the people and how they think. Pearl feels free in nature because there are no laws to restrain her, or people to make her think one particular way. I think this symbol can relate to the native americans, even though they didn't have as structured a society as the Puritans, they thrived in nature, they lived amongst it. I think Pearl is the symbol of freedom from society, and is showing nature is the only habitual place to live.
As the two wayfarers came within the precincts of the town, the children of the Puritans looked up from their play,--or what passed for play with those sombre little urchins,--and spake gravely one to another:--
ReplyDelete"Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter; and, of a truth, moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running along by her side! Come, therefore, and let us fling mud at them!"
In this scene, all the townspeople, think that that are higher in society than hester, only because of her sin.The best symbol, is the scarlet letter that heseter wears on her chest.
The letter represents a mistake of her past, and it represents sin. The book makes it out to later, not even matter to hester. she sort of would rather wear it, instead of have it off.
The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison.
ReplyDeleteThis quote is given before any charcters or plot is given to the reader. This quote is used to prepare the reader for what some of the main ideals of the novel is about.
The jail and the cemetery are two things that people never want to think about or go to. Howver they are part of everyday society.No matter how perfet a society tries to be they will always need a jail and a cemtery. As crime and death is normal. The jail and the cemtery represent they bleak side of society. Where the opposite given in the book would be the church, a place of good intentions and the place where people can reach salvation. What Hawthorne is ultimately saying is that no utopia can be perfect. This fit into the book as Hester, a person who does good deeds, has commited sin and that Dimmesdale, a beloved pastor, has commited sin. These two people have sined in soceity that shows itself as being pure. In a way the Scarlet Letter is linked to the prison and the cemtery. As the letter caused Hester to go to prison and the letter follows Hetster to the grave (cemetery).
Katie McCarthy:
ReplyDeleteBut Hester Prynne, with a mind of native courage and activity, and for so long a period not merely estranged, but outlawed, from society, had habituated herself to such latitude of speculation as was altogether foreign to the clergyman.
This quote shows what society has done to Hester. By society shunning Hester and "outlawing" her it has changed her completely. So much so that Dimmesdale hardly even recognizes her.
This quote is shown to be true when in the conclusion Hester returns and all that is recognized about her is the scarlet letter. This shows that the town only knows who she is and what she is about because of the scarlet letter.
in a way, the symbol is indirectly the scarlet letter. this letter is societies stamp on Hester Prynne and they decided that is who she will be. by them setting her a part in this negative way they made her like an untouchable, to contamenated to converse with in oublic. throughout the novel the towns seal of disapproval is constantly upon hester, and it obviously altered her completely.
the symbol of the towns disgrace through the scarlet letter shows that society can change you one way or another. who knows what would have happened to hester if the town never found out about her affair with dimmesdale. the whole novel is about the scarlet letter and the toil it took upon hester publiclly and privately. in the conclusion when hester returns wearing the scarlet letter it shows just how much the scarlet letter became a apart of her. she was so accustomed to wearing it and being talked about while wearing it that she felt like it was necessary to have it on while she lived in the town, even though it was years in the past.
Pearl, without responding in any manner to these honey-sweet expressions, remained on the other side of the brook. Now she fixed her bright, wild eyes on her mother, now on the minister, and now included them both in the same glance; as if to detect and explain to herself the relation which they bore to one another. For some unaccountable reason, as Arthur Dimmesdale felt the child's eyes upon himself, his hand--with that gesture so habitual as to have become involuntary--stole over his heart. At length, assuming a singular air of authority, Pearl stretched out her hand, with the small forefinger extended, and pointing evidently towards her mother's breast. And beneath, in the mirror of the brook, there was the flower-girdled and sunny image of little Pearl, pointing her small forefinger too.
ReplyDeleteIn this scene, Pearl represents what Hawthorne ultimatelly wants for us to accomplish, to be almost separate from society's ways, and to keep traditions that you are accustomed to.
In a way, the symbol is directly Pearl. She is separating herself more and more from Hester, who is representing society herself in a more indirect way. As Hester changes throughout the novel, i.e. just as society changes over time, Pearl generally gets broader away from her as time progresses.
"Pearl still pointed with her forefinger; and a frown gathered on her brow; the more impressive from the childish, the almost baby-like aspect of the features that conveyed it. As her mother still kept beckoning to her, and arraying her face in a holiday suit of unaccustomed smiles, the child stamped her foot with a yet more imperious look and gesture. In the brook, again, was the fantastic beauty of the image, with its reflected frown, its pointed finger, and imperious gesture, giving emphasis to the aspect of little Pearl."
ReplyDeleteIn this scene, Dimmesdale has met up with Hester and Pearl in the forest. Hester has cast away her scarlet letter, and because of that, Pearl will not return to her.
This scene is very important to the overall theme of the book. Essentially, the symbol is Pearl's resistance to return to her mother when she is not wearing the scarlet letter. Hawthorne uses this to tell us that we should not hide from what we have done and who we truly are. Society as a whole does this, but Hawthorne tells us not to be ashamed. Pearl knows that this Hester is giving in to society, so she does not return until Hester places the scarlet letter back where it belongs.
"It might be, too, that a witch, like old Mistress Hibbins, the bitter-tempered widow of the magistrate, was to die upon the gallows." (from chapter 2, Hawthorn's explanation of punishment in Puritan society)
ReplyDeleteMistress Hibbins, in this instance, and throughout the novel, gives a name to the average puritan member of society. Hawthorne seems to always have Mistress Hibbins in scenes giving a voice to the puritan masses regarding Hester. I think Hawthorne is trying to make us see that the puritans, although they're extremely different from our society, aren't as dumb as we'd like to think.
Little Pearl—who was as greatly pleased with the gleaming armor as she had been with the glittering frontispiece of the house—spent some time looking into the polished mirror of the breast plate.
ReplyDelete“Mother,” cried she, “I see you here. Look! Look!”
Hester looked, by way of humoring the child; and she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it. Pearl pointed upward, also, at a similar picture in the head-piece; smiling at her mother, with the elfish intelligence that was so familiar an expression on her small physiognomy. That look of naughty merriment was likewise reflected in the mirror, with so much breadth and intensity of effect, that it made Hester Prynne feel as if it could not be the image of her own child, but of an imp who was seeking to mould itself into Pearl's shape.
Hester had gone to Governor Bellingham’s house to talk about the fate of pearl. While they were looking around his mansion, they saw the armor from his family. Pearl wanted Hester to look at the armor, so Hester looked into the breast plate. In the plate she saw her enlarged scarlet letter. She also saw that Pearl looked like an imp in the armor.
The armor represents many things in this passage, but the symbolism that deals with society is that the armor symbolizes the town’s view of Hester and Pearl. The town judges Hester by her scarlet letter, and the letter is enlarged in the armor. The town views Pearl as a devil child, because she was conceived through a sin (adultery).
The message of the book that is seen in this message is that the puritans judged people by what they have done. Since Hester committed adultery, she is seen as an adulteress, and only that. Hawthorne is trying to communicate how Puritan society is very judgmental when it comes to sinners. When Dimmesdale reveals his sin, he also shows his version of the scarlet letter. Because of the Puritans’ judgment of sinners, they were astonished that it would have to apply to their beloved minister. There is not an opposite symbol of the armor because the Puritan’s view of sinners never changes. The Puritans themselves are a symbol that is similar to the armor. They both symbolize the Puritan view of sinners, especially major sinners.