I'm not very good at understanding the symbolism stuff in books. In the first chapter there's a rosebush outside of the prison. Does anyone know what it symbolizes? Thanks.
2007-01-01 14:19:26 · 7 answers · asked by je t'♥ 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
A rosebud traditionally is a sweet, fresh bloom of youth. The symbolism could be the lost freshness of Hester's youth.
2007-01-01 14:24:33 · answer #1 · answered by answer annie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Understanding symbols has a lot to do with understanding the object itself. Take the rose bush: what do you know about roses? They're pretty, smell wonderful, and you really enjoy getting them at Valentine's Day. BUT: rose bushes have thorns, big, nasty thorns.
So, what do you do with this information? Well, roses, those beautiful, fragrant flowers, come with nasty, sharp thorns. Now, what about The Scarlet Letter? Well, compare Hester to a rose. She's beautiful, but there's pain involved there, too, right? Is it her fault any more than the rose's? No. It's just the nature of the thing. Roses have thorns; Hester had a husband. Both cause pain because of their circumstances. That's symbolism.
2007-01-01 22:28:17 · answer #2 · answered by KD 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've read The Scarlet Letter, but I've never been any good at understanding the symbolism. Trying to find symbolism in things I was reading kind of ruined those books for me.
2007-01-02 00:09:59 · answer #3 · answered by Irish1952 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rosebush refers back to Pearl,she is a rose without a thorn. It was also said I think in the beginning of the book that another women had walked over that ground and the rose had sprout from it. Cliff note it.
2007-01-01 22:52:39 · answer #4 · answered by Ellie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i have read it excellent book by the way
the rosebush symbolizes nature's ability to transcend the doings of humans...
something as beautiful as a rosebush can bloom in such grim unsuitable surroundings for nature has it that it can pity those whom men shun away from society and offer them hope
the rose bush is also a motif meaning that it will recurr in the novel and this gives it more value...also it juxtaposes the prison door and its surroundings (weeds) because its beauty enhances their ugliness.
hope that helps =]
if you want a more detailed answer check sparknotes.com
2007-01-01 22:26:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Burn the book now. I promise you will read few books worse than this one. But I don't get why everybody always analyzes the rose flower itself. What about the thorns on the stem? Beautiful on outside, spiky on inside?
2007-01-01 22:28:27 · answer #6 · answered by doctorevil64 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes and i loved it, no i don't know or i have forgotten what it means. try the scarlet pimpernel, great read.
2007-01-01 22:27:35 · answer #7 · answered by johnmiriani@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋