Light, Darkness, and the Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne's bold novel, The Scarlet Letter, effectively uses three main symbols: light, darkness, and the scarlet letter. The novel relies heavily on the symbolism of light and darkness to represent the eternal struggle of good versus evil. An example of the effective use of light and dark symbolism occurs when Hester and her daughter are walking in the forest, Pearl exclaims: Mother, the sunlight does not love you. He runs away and hides, because he is afraid of something in your breast. Now look! Here, playing is a good way out. Stay here and let me run and get it. I am but a child. He will not flee from me, for I still wear nothing on my chest (192) Hester tries to reach into the circle of light, but the sun vanishes (192). He then suggests that they go to the forest and rest (193). This short scene actually represents Hester's daily struggle in life. The light represents what Hester wants to be, which is pure. The movement of the light represents Hester's constant denial of acceptance. Hester's lack of surprise and quick suggestion that she go into the forest, where it is dark, shows that she never expected to be admitted and is resigned to her position in life. Another way that light and darkness are used in symbolism is how Hester and Dimmesdale's escape plan is doomed to fail. Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the shadows of the forest with a dark sky and a threatening storm overhead when they discuss their plans for the future (200). The gloomy weather and shadows exemplify the fact that they cannot free themselves from the repressive force of their sins. It is later demonstrated when Dimmesdale dies on the gallows instead of leaving with Hester and going to England (269). A final example occurs in how Hester and Dimmesdale fail to acknowledge their love in front of others. When they meet in the woods, they feel that "no golden light was ever so precious as the darkness of this dark forest (206). This emotion foretells that they will never last together openly because their sin has separated them too much from normal life. The scarlet letter also takes on many different forms in the novel. The first and clearest form that the letter A takes is “Adulteress"..