Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get," suggests Tom Hanks in the motion picture "Forrest Gump". He utilizes this metaphor to align a box of chocolates as a symbol for life. Symbolism serves as a useful tool to convey a message or point subtly so that the concept lingers in the mind of the reader, who then establishes a relation in his or her mind with that object and the message. Hawthorne uses symbolism in The Scarlet Letter extensively to express the underlying truths about the stifling nature of Puritan society and the dispositions of the characters in the novel. Such elements as nature, color, and light; the scarlet letter itself; as well as the scaffold, where the three pinnacles of the plot occur, operate on a firm foundation of symbolism. Nature, color and light are used as symbols throughout the novel to illustrate several areas of the story (Waggoner 154). The prison door, for example, was described as being composed of â€Å"oak and iron† and its coloring â€Å"sad† and â€Å"gray†, symbolizing the rigidity of the Puritan society against sinners (Waggoner 154). The rosebush situated outside of the prison door is like a â€Å"moral blossom† growing amongst the bitter weeds of society, in the â€Å"most unlikely of places† (Hawthorne). The placement of the rosebush in such a dank, improbable position as outside of a place housing sinners (the prison), imparts the fact that such an element of beauty and innocence is nevertheless able to be born out of a station with such an ill aura. Pearl is symbolic of the rosebush in that she was spawned from the same evil air of sin (Waggoner 156). However, her purity is just as real as that which comes from a origin of virtue (Waggoner 156). She is often associated with roses (Waggoner 156). For example, in the governor’s she cries and pleas that she must have one (Waggoner 156). In addition, her very name is an indication of the symbol she conveys (Waggoner 157). Like a pearl comes from the mangled, impure exterior of the oyster, Pearl comes from the equally impure and squalid exterior of the sin her parents willingly committed (Waggoner 157). Another nature related symbol comes in the forest. The forest itself holds its own variety of symbolism. â€Å"Freedom† is one expression of the forest. There is no reason for Hester and Dimmesdale to be secretive among the trees where no one can witness their union (Matthiessen 299).

Positive and Negative emotions Essay

  There are a few benefits associated with experiencing a positive emotion theory. Typically, when you are having a positive emotion you see things on the up side rather than a negative outlook. For instance, people always feel good or continue to think positive if they are getting good grades in school. I, myself is very eager to sustain a positive emotion when my grades are above average and I am getting positive feedback from the instructor saying that I am on a great path in that class. This emotion will help promote a positive well-being. Another benefit associated with experiencing positive emotion is positive effect. With this warrants joy, happiness, and positive fulfillment. These emotions create a desire to search for new possibilities as well expressing your creative talents. Me personally, women are more emotional creatures. We sometimes can get in our feeling, rather the emotion is positive or negative. We are sensitive, shy, and reluctant at times, versus men who tend to keep their emotions in check. I feel men are the lessor emotionally engaging of the two. Most of the time men are more positive about certain situation unlike women, we can find negativity in a plain paper bag. When comes to the raising of children, men are more apt to being positive. I say that because I can be all up in my emotions dealing with our son and my husband (almost with a blank stare on his face) will say he is a boy let him get bumps and bruises that will toughen him up. Despite what he says I am still a nervous wreck when may fall or hurt himself. So, I think there is a big gap in how men and women differ in negative emotions.

Life That Inspired My Left Foot - 1258 Words

Emmanuella Abankwah November 23,2016 The life that inspired my left foot The book I was required to read for my English class was called † My Left Foot† by Christy Brown. The setting takes place in Dublin, Ireland in 1932. Christy Brown was born into a poor, working-class Irish family in Dublin, Ireland 1932. A victim of cerebral palsy, he could neither control his speech nor his movements, apart from his left foot. For the first ten years of his life he was falsely believed to be intellectually disabled. Christy Brown was born in Ireland in 1932, after a difficult birth and with a serious disability that the doctors of the time were unable to name. They urged his parents not to place their trust in him, as he was, they believed, an imbecile After he was born, his parents then had five other children, all healthy. Christy s mother, however, refused to systemize him, keeping him at home and treating him with tender care. It would not be until years later that she would learn that Christy s affliction was severe cerebra l palsy. At the age of 5, he wrote his first letter ,†A†, on a chalkboard using his left foot. His left foot proved to the family he was not an imbecile but a human being able to think and express his thoughts. His mother was resolute to teaching her son the basics ofShow MoreRelatedThe Life of Sylvia Plath1006 Words   |  5 PagesThe Life of Sylvia Plath Sylvia Plaths life, like her manic depression, constantly jumped between Heaven and Hell. Her seemingly perfect exterior hid a turbulent and deeply troubled spirit. A closer look at her childhood and personal experiences removes some element of mystery from her writings. One central character to Sylvia Plaths poems is her father, Professor Otto Emile Plath. Otto Plath was diabetic and refused to stay away from foods restricted by his doctor. 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