Elements of Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter200 Teacher Praise and Comments Nathaniel Hawthorne uses several literary devices to give depth to his novel The Scarlet Letter. One such device 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 settings of the Puritan city, the forest, and the weather. The first of the two main settings is the Puritan city which includes the prison and the gallows. 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. Therefore, the city is synonymous with legality and purity. It serves as a contrast to 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 gallows in the market place. 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 device of wood and iron” (60). It provides the setting for several important scenes in the novel. It is where Hester is forced to stand for three hours as punishment, where Dimmesdale, Pearl, and Hester stand in the 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 the city. It proves to be something of a dramatic obstacle to the idealistic Puritan society. Puritans maintain a community that thrives in purity and sinlessness. The forest, however, is a symbol of illegality and desecration. It is shrouded in mystery and retains a dark and disturbing air. The Puritans hate the forest because it represents a perfect example of evil. However, the witches who live in the city see things very differently. They appreciate the anonymity that the forest offers them. They are then free to pay homage to the Boogeyman in secret. Their presence reiterates the fact that the forest is a symbol of darkness.