DARKNESS/LIGHTDARKNESS/LIGHT IN IN THE SCARLET THE SCARLET

LETTERLETTEREddie MezianEddie MezianMrs. HalajianMrs. Halajian

AP Literature and CompositionAP Literature and CompositionApril 21, 2023April 21, 2023

DARKNESS ACCORDING TO DARKNESS ACCORDING TO THE INTERNETTHE INTERNET

EvilEvil

ChaosChaos

Associated with death and destructionAssociated with death and destruction

TroubleTrouble

Opposite of “light”Opposite of “light”

DARKNESS ACCORDING TO DARKNESS ACCORDING TO THE SCARLET LETTERTHE SCARLET LETTER

EvilEvil DestructionDestruction TroubleTrouble FalseFalse FakeFake HiddenHidden ObscureObscure

LIGHT ACCORDING TO THE LIGHT ACCORDING TO THE INTERNETINTERNET

Clearing up of thingsClearing up of things TruthTruth Goodness found in everyoneGoodness found in everyone The spiritual and the divineThe spiritual and the divine Ultimate realityUltimate reality Opposite to “darkness”Opposite to “darkness”

LIGHT ACCORDING TO LIGHT ACCORDING TO THE THE SCARLET LETTERSCARLET LETTER

TruthTruth

RealityReality

RevelationRevelation

BenevolenceBenevolence

GoodnessGoodness

EXAMPLE NUMERO UNOEXAMPLE NUMERO UNO

““His face His face darkeneddarkened with some powerful with some powerful emotion, which, nevertheless, he so emotion, which, nevertheless, he so instantaneously controlled by an effort of instantaneously controlled by an effort of his will, that, save at a single moment, its his will, that, save at a single moment, its expression might have passed for calmness. expression might have passed for calmness. After a brief space, the convulsion grew After a brief space, the convulsion grew almost imperceptible, and finally subsided almost imperceptible, and finally subsided into the depths of his nature.” (Ch. 3; pg. into the depths of his nature.” (Ch. 3; pg. 52-53)52-53)

- Foreshadows evil and danger- Foreshadows evil and danger- He is at the scene for a reason! (Most - He is at the scene for a reason! (Most

probably an evil reason)probably an evil reason)

EXAMPLE NUMERO DOSEXAMPLE NUMERO DOS ““Such an interview, perhaps, would have been Such an interview, perhaps, would have been

more terrible than even to meet him as she now more terrible than even to meet him as she now did, with the hot mid-day sun burning down upon did, with the hot mid-day sun burning down upon her face, and her face, and lighting uplighting up its shame; with the its shame; with the scarlet token of infamy on her breast; with the sin-scarlet token of infamy on her breast; with the sin-born infant in her arms; with a whole people, born infant in her arms; with a whole people, drawn forth as to a festival, staring at the features drawn forth as to a festival, staring at the features that should have been seen only in the quiet that should have been seen only in the quiet gleam of the fireside, in the happy gleam of the fireside, in the happy shadowshadow of a of a home, or beneath a matronly veil at church.” home, or beneath a matronly veil at church.” (Ch.3;pg. 54-55)(Ch.3;pg. 54-55)

-”Lighting up” = clears everything in public, -”Lighting up” = clears everything in public, shamefully, demonstrates truth.shamefully, demonstrates truth.

-”shadow” = false identity, hidden shame-”shadow” = false identity, hidden shame

EXAMPLE NUMERO TRESEXAMPLE NUMERO TRES ““Old Roger Chillingworth, with a smile on his face, Old Roger Chillingworth, with a smile on his face,

whispered something in the young clergyman's whispered something in the young clergyman's ear. Hester Prynne looked at the man of skill, and ear. Hester Prynne looked at the man of skill, and even then, with her fate hanging in the balance, even then, with her fate hanging in the balance, was startled to perceive what a change had come was startled to perceive what a change had come over his features—how much uglier they were, over his features—how much uglier they were, how his how his darkdark complexion seemed to have grown complexion seemed to have grown duskier, and his figure more misshapen—since duskier, and his figure more misshapen—since the days when she had familiarly known him.” the days when she had familiarly known him.” (Ch.8; pg. 93)(Ch.8; pg. 93)

-Foreshadows evilness and means of destruction.-Foreshadows evilness and means of destruction.-Wants revenge-Wants revenge

EXAMPLE NUMERO EXAMPLE NUMERO CUATROCUATRO

““And he himself in so far as he shows himself And he himself in so far as he shows himself in a false in a false lightlight, becomes a , becomes a shadowshadow, or, , or, indeed, ceases to exist. The only truth that indeed, ceases to exist. The only truth that continued to give Mr. Dimmesdale a real continued to give Mr. Dimmesdale a real existence on this earth was the anguish in his existence on this earth was the anguish in his inmost soul, and the undissembled expression inmost soul, and the undissembled expression of it in his aspect.” (Ch.11; pg. 121)of it in his aspect.” (Ch.11; pg. 121)

-Light represents truth; false light represents lie-Light represents truth; false light represents lie-Shadow (darkness) represents false identity-Shadow (darkness) represents false identity

EXAMPLE NUMERO EXAMPLE NUMERO CINCOCINCO

“’“’By thy first step awry, thou didst plant the germ By thy first step awry, thou didst plant the germ of evil; but since that moment it has all been a of evil; but since that moment it has all been a darkdark necessity. Ye that have wronged me are not necessity. Ye that have wronged me are not sinful, save in a kind of typical illusion; neither am sinful, save in a kind of typical illusion; neither am I fiend-like, who have snatched a fiend's office I fiend-like, who have snatched a fiend's office from his hands. It is our fate. Let the from his hands. It is our fate. Let the blackblack flower flower blossom as it may! Now, go thy ways, and deal as blossom as it may! Now, go thy ways, and deal as thou wilt with yonder man.’” (Ch.14; pg. 144)thou wilt with yonder man.’” (Ch.14; pg. 144)

- Represents evil necessity to surviveRepresents evil necessity to survive- ““Black flower” represents Hester and Black flower” represents Hester and

Chillingworth as hidden sinners.Chillingworth as hidden sinners.

EXAMPLE NUMERO SEISEXAMPLE NUMERO SEIS ““She had not known the weight until she She had not known the weight until she

felt the freedom! By another impulse, she felt the freedom! By another impulse, she took off the formal cap that confined her took off the formal cap that confined her hair, and down it fell upon her shoulders, hair, and down it fell upon her shoulders, darkdark and rich, with at once a and rich, with at once a shadowshadow and and a a lightlight in its abundance, and imparting in its abundance, and imparting the charm of softness to her features.” the charm of softness to her features.” (Ch. 18; pg. 167)(Ch. 18; pg. 167)

- Had evil and goodness inside of it.- Had evil and goodness inside of it.- Juxtaposes to show the positive and Juxtaposes to show the positive and

negative of the scarlet letter.negative of the scarlet letter.

EXAMPLE NUMERO SIETEEXAMPLE NUMERO SIETE ““And now, almost imperceptible as were the And now, almost imperceptible as were the

latter steps of his progress, he had come latter steps of his progress, he had come opposite the well-remembered and weather-opposite the well-remembered and weather-darkeneddarkened scaffold, where, long since, with scaffold, where, long since, with all that dreary lapse of time between, all that dreary lapse of time between, Hester Prynne had encountered the world's Hester Prynne had encountered the world's ignominious stare.” (Ch.23; pg. 205-206)ignominious stare.” (Ch.23; pg. 205-206)

- ““Darkened” because of evil presented Darkened” because of evil presented publiclypublicly

- Cleared everything up to publicCleared everything up to public

EXAMPLE NUMERO OCHOEXAMPLE NUMERO OCHO

““At this instant old Roger Chillingworth At this instant old Roger Chillingworth thrust himself through the crowd—or, thrust himself through the crowd—or, perhaps, so perhaps, so darkdark, disturbed, and evil , disturbed, and evil was his look, he rose up out of some was his look, he rose up out of some nether region—to snatch back his nether region—to snatch back his victim from what he sought to do!” victim from what he sought to do!” (Ch.23, pg. 206)(Ch.23, pg. 206)

- Evil, maliciousEvil, malicious- Wanting revengeWanting revenge

HOW DOES MY SYMBOL HOW DOES MY SYMBOL HELP IN UNDERSTANDING HELP IN UNDERSTANDING

THE STORY?THE STORY?

Keeps reader active by Keeps reader active by foreshadowing events.foreshadowing events.

Makes it easier for reader to analyze Makes it easier for reader to analyze each character’s activities and know each character’s activities and know who’s protagonist and antagonist.who’s protagonist and antagonist.– ChillingworthChillingworth– DimmesdaleDimmesdale– Hester PrynneHester Prynne

WORKS CITEDWORKS CITED

http://www.umich.edu/%7Eumfandsf/http://www.umich.edu/%7Eumfandsf/symbolismproject/symbolism.html/D/symbolismproject/symbolism.html/D/darkness.htmldarkness.html

http://www.umich.edu/%7Eumfandsf/http://www.umich.edu/%7Eumfandsf/symbolismproject/symbolism.html/L/lsymbolismproject/symbolism.html/L/light.htmlight.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/11130/http://library.thinkquest.org/11130/data/interpret/symbolism.html#d data/interpret/symbolism.html#d