Elements of Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter200 Praise and Commentary from Teacher Nathaniel Hawthorne uses several literary devices to give depth to his novel The Scarlet Letter. One of these devices is symbolism. Hawthorne uses symbolism to convey certain points or themes to the reader using ordinary objects. Three of the elements he uses as symbols are the setting of the Puritan town, the forest, and the climate. The first of the two main settings is the Puritan town which includes the prison and the scaffold. Puritan law is based on their religion. The city maintains a sense of strict moral values ​​and disciplinary measures in accordance with the Puritan religion. The city is therefore synonymous with legality and purity. This contrasts with Hester Prynne's Scarlet Letter. The prison around which the city was built also serves as a symbol. It represents guilt and the human tendency to sin, and also symbolizes penance. Hester is forced to spend time in prison for committing the sin of adultery, and this is the starting point of Hester's journey of shame to the scaffold of the market. The scaffold itself is another symbol used by Hawthorne. Like prison, it also symbolizes sin and guilt. “The very ideal of ignominy was embodied and made manifest in this artifice of wood and iron” (60). It serves as the setting for several important scenes in the novel. This is where Hester is forced to stay up for three hours as punishment, where Dimmesdale, Pearl, and Hester stand at night, and where Dimmesdale reveals himself and dies. It is also a symbol of truth because Dimmesdale's great revelation occurred there. The second setting is the forest just outside of town. This turns out to be a sort of dramatic foil to the idealistic Puritan society. The Puritans maintained a community that thrived on purity and freedom from sin. The forest, on the other hand, is a symbol of anarchy and desecration. It is shrouded in mystery and retains a dark and disturbing air. The Puritans hated the forest because it was a perfect example of evil. However, the witches who live in the town see the situation very differently. They appreciate the anonymity that the forest offers them. They are thus free to pay homage to the Black Man in secret. Their presence recalls the fact that the forest is a symbol of darkness.