The Scarlet Letter - Plant Imagery Essays - English-language Films

The Scarlet Letter - Plant Imagery Throughout the novel, Hawthorne uses plant imagery to symbolize both 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 Puritanism in Boston where a young and attractive Puritan woman commits adultery with the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale. Chillingworth, Hesters' husband, whom everyone thought was 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 which is in the form of plant imagery. Hawthorne uses many different negative variations of plant imagery to illustrate his ideas. 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 twigs from the forest trees? (111) which symbolizes how Chillingworth was ?plucking? the life out of Dimmesdale limb 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 Dimmesdale's covert discussion about ?the powers of nature call[ing] so earnestly for the confession of sin,[and discussing] that these black weeds have sprung up out of a buried heart, to make mani fest 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 Hester's 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. Hester, ?[sitting] down on the heap of moss where she and Pearl had before been sitting? (174), shows that the moss acts as a comfort to Hester, and it is a place where she can forget her guilt. Dimmesdale and Hester, ?hand clasped in hand, on the mossy tree trunk of the fallen tree? (179) together rid themselves of their guilt for the time being. Furthermore, leaves also symbolize the positive aspects of plant imagery. Dimmesdale tells Hester that ?the forest leaves [have] risen up all made anew? (185) meaning that their guilt was forever gone, and God had forgiven them. Similarly, ?the yellow leaves will show no vestige of the white man's tread? (180-181) because they cover the trail of guilt left behind by man. Though Hawthorne places either good or bad plant images with his characters, Pearl stands as a blend of them both. Pearl possesses positive character traits exemplified by the plant imagery used. Dimmesdale perceives Pearl to be of great value because of her name and by comparing her a ?Red Rose? (101) . On the other hand, Pearl remains viewed as a demon child. For no apparent reason, Pearl ?threw one of the prickly burrs at the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale. The sensitive clergyman shrunk, with nervous dread, from the light missile? (123). This shows Pearl's inconsideration towards others, and it also symbolizes how Dimmesdale dodged the missile filled with guilt that would have stuck to him had he not ducked. Pearl constantly reminds and tortures Hester of her mothers' sin by ?arrange[ing] them [prickly burrs] along the lines of the scarlet letter that decorated the maternal bosom?(123) Deception and guilt remained evident throughout the novel by the use of plant imagery. All of the characters related to at least one plant in the novel. For the most part, Pearl became

Free Your Inner Thinker Essays - Truth, Atheism, Agnosticism

Free Your Inner Thinker Essays - Truth, Atheism, Agnosticism Free Your Inner Thinker Free Your Inner Thinker Organized religions are laden with the debris of archaic, superstitious images. Everywhere people go they are submerged in biblical ignorance, religious illiteracy and historical stupidity (Edelen, The 10 Commandments). People are surrounded by cultic codes and images at every turn. This must stop! One organization that is taking a stand is called The Freedom From Religion Foundation. It is most commonly referred to as free thought. A freethinker is a person who forms opinions and beliefs on the basis of reason, independent of tradition, authority, or established belief (Barker). Freethinkers love to learn new ideas and are not satisfied with what is already known. Thus, all members must be free from the conformity of a bible, creed, or messiah. They must be allowed to think for themselves, rather than blindly follow tradition or cosmic absolutes. Freethinkers believe the truth and choose not to follow the lies and superstitions that are, inevitably, part of religion. Common mythological themes are saturated through out the bible, from the creation and flood myth to virgin birth and hero resurrection (Edelen, The Sin). Unlike conventional religions, Freethinkers beliefs are based on reality and reason. As defined in Nontract #11, What is a Freethinker, Reality is limited to that which is directly perceivable though our natural senses or indirectly ascertained through the proper use of reason (Barker). For an idea or belief to be considered true it must be testable, falsifiable, parsimonious, and logical. Every belief a freethinker has must have evidence or experiments to confirm it; all attempts to disprove it must repeatedly fail, require little to no assumptions, and be free from contradictions and character attacks (Barker). Freethinkers use the thinking part of there brain to understand the universe. Many people who dont understand free thought think that freethinkers lack morals. The morality of a freethinker can be summed up in one word, kindness. Morality is not a bunch of dos and donts but, instead, is based on human needs (Barker). Freethinkers try to be good and fair to everyone. They believe that all human beings should live in peace no matter what their race, sex, religion, what they think, who they love, or where they come from. They do their best to protect the earth and all its creatures. Religion promotes dangerous and inadequate morality based on blind obedience, rather than a careful use of reason to weigh the possible outcomes when faced with a moral dilemma (Barker). The most common philoshical question pondered is whether there is a meaning of life. Freethinkers know that the meaning of life must originate in the mind. Since the universe is mindless and the cosmos do not care, if you wish to have a purpose, YOU must care (Barker). Not all freethinkers believe in a meaning of life, as with all beliefs, individuals are free to accept or discard it. Where as many freethinker choose to believe there is no divine plan, most freethinkers find meaning in life. They find meaning in human compassion, social progress, the beauty of humanity, personal happiness, pleasure, joy, love, and the advancement of knowledge (Barker). Unlike convention religions, free thought requires an explanation rather than a designer to explain the complexity of life. One such explanation is Darwins theory of evolution along with natural selection. Freethinkers do not believe in a divine designer because the complexity of such a creature would be subject to the same scrutiny itself (Barker). Freethinkers also believe that religion is not only useless but also harmful. Historically, religion has always produced violence (Edelen Religion). From Moses to the Crusades, Henry VIII, Salem, Hitler, Kosovo. Edelen writes, it is the countries with out religion that are the least violent (Religion). He also stated in the same article that, America is the most religious of all industrialized nations, and yet is the most violent nation in the world. Many of the worlds most gruesome leaders believed they were performing gods work. Hitler himself wrote, I am completely convinced that I am acting as the agent of god. I am now a Catholic and will always remain so, in Mein Kampf (qtd in Edelen, Religion). Freethinkers do not believe that all religious people are