Although the main focus of The Scarlet Letter is directed towards the evil and shame involved in adultery, in all actuality, a number of symbols and events throughout the book, prove that the story is truly a romantic novel. Many times, the romanticism in a novel or story, such as The Scarlet Letter, is not blatantly stated throughout the text, but instead ideas and symbols are used. By using these techniques, a person must think harder, and seek to find the true meaning behind their usage. Romanticism can fall under many categories, for example, it can be anything from nature, emotions and spirituality, to freedom, family, and love. Hawthorne depicts many of these qualities of romanticism in The Scarlet Letter, while still placing the most emphasis on the wrong-doings, and the overall immorality of the novel.
The most obvious symbol of romanticism in this book is Hester's daughter, Pearl.
The Scarlet Letter (1860) by T. H. Matteson. Oil o...
English: Hester Prynne & Pearl before the stocks
This is the title page for the first edition of Th...At first, it is somewhat difficult to understand why Pearl, the living proof that Hester had committed adultery, and the reason why she was forced to wear the scarlet letter A, would be such a romantic symbol, but she definitely is. "The true love honestly comes out with the story of mother and child", (Kuchling, Andrew). When Pearl is being stoned by the other children, Hester stands up and makes it clear to them that Pearl means as much to her as each one of them means to their mother. This does a fine job of showing the unconditional love between the two of them, (Kuchling, Andrew). Unconditional love is most often displayed in families, mainly because of the bond that they share with each other. When Hester decides to stand up for Pearl and herself, she proves that they hold that special, unconditional bond with one another. An...