The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is wholly symbolic. Almost every sentence has a deeper underlying meaning. Even the characters' names are a prelude into the personality of that character. The main characters are depicted by their names and actions; some of these characters are: Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale,. .
Hester's name means star'. This literally gives light to her personality. Amidst the stern, grey, Puritans she stood out like a star does in the night, sky, both personality wise and physically. "On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth surrounded with elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter "A."" It was so artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore; and which was of a splendor in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony- (Hawthorne51). Despite the infamy it took to sew the letter, Hester did not let it get to her. About seven years after receiving the letter Hester was not so callously looked down upon. In fact, she was now looked up to as a mentor of salvation, a living punishment, and an understanding sinner. "It is our Hester "the town's own Hester "who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflicted!- (Hawthone159). She is the star, the light, and the hope, to countless fellow sinners.
Pearl's name is obviously not a symbolic mystery. Pearl, like a pearl, is bought at a great price. "The infant; that little creature, whose innocent life had sprung, by the inscrutable decree of Providence out of the rank luxuriance of a guilty passion- (Hawthorne85). Pearl's life was bought through the ignominious act of lechery. A pearl is also considered a jewel or treasure, which Pearl was to Hester.