Scribd
Upload
21 views2 pages

Kabuliwallah by Rabindranath Tagore

The document provides an overview of notable literary figures including Rabindranath Tagore, Sophocles, Edgar Allan Poe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, highlighting their contributions to literature and their notable works. It specifically discusses the symbols in Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter,' explaining their meanings related to themes of sin, redemption, and societal judgment. The document emphasizes the transformation of symbols throughout the narrative, reflecting the characters' journeys and moral complexities.

Uploaded by

Charisma Joy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
21 views2 pages

Kabuliwallah by Rabindranath Tagore

The document provides an overview of notable literary figures including Rabindranath Tagore, Sophocles, Edgar Allan Poe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, highlighting their contributions to literature and their notable works. It specifically discusses the symbols in Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter,' explaining their meanings related to themes of sin, redemption, and societal judgment. The document emphasizes the transformation of symbols throughout the narrative, reflecting the characters' journeys and moral complexities.

Uploaded by

Charisma Joy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Kabuliwallah by Rabindranath Tagore (born May 7, 1861, Calcutta [now Kolkata], India—died

August 7, 1941, Calcutta) was a Bengali poet, short-story writer, song composer, playwright,
essayist, and painter who introduced new prose and verse forms and the use of colloquial
language into Bengali literature, thereby freeing it from traditional models based on classical
Sanskrit. He was highly influential in introducing Indian culture to the West and vice versa, and
he is generally regarded as the outstanding creative artist of early 20th-century India. In 1913 he
became the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Oedips Rex by Sophocles was born in 496 BCE, in Colonus, a small village near Athens,
Greece. He was one of the three great tragic playwrights, along with Aeschylus and Euripides.

Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic
who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and
the macabre.
Born January 19, 1809 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died October 7, 1849 (aged 40) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
"Annabel Lee" was probably composed in May 1849.

Spouse Virginia Eliza Clemm ( m. 1836; died 1847)

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer.
His works often focus on history, morality, and religion. He was born in 1804 in Salem,
Massachusetts, from a family long associated with that town.

Born: July 4, 1804, Salem, Massachusetts, United States


Died: May 19, 1864 (age 59 years), Plymouth, New Hampshire, United States

Symbols in The Scarlet Letter and Their Meanings

1. The Scarlet Letter "A" – Initially a symbol of shame and sin, it marks Hester
Prynne as an adulteress. Over time, it transforms into a symbol of strength and
resilience, as Hester redefines its meaning through her good deeds.
2. Pearl – Hester’s daughter represents both sin and redemption. As a living
reminder of her mother’s transgression, Pearl challenges the Puritan society’s
rigid morality, yet she also embodies Hester’s love and hope.
3. The Scaffold – A place of public judgment and confession, the scaffold
represents both punishment and redemption. Hester stands on it in shame, but
Dimmesdale later uses it to reveal his hidden guilt, finding absolution.
4. The Forest – A symbol of freedom and the unknown, the forest serves as a
contrast to the strict Puritan society. It is where Hester and Dimmesdale can
express their true emotions away from societal judgment.
5. Dimmesdale’s Chest and the Mysterious Mark – His secret guilt manifests
physically, hinting that sin cannot remain hidden forever. His pain reflects the
theme of private vs. public guilt.
6. The Rosebush – Found outside the prison door, the rosebush symbolizes hope,
resilience, and nature’s mercy in contrast to the harsh Puritan laws. It suggests
that beauty and kindness can still exist amid suffering.
7. The Prison Door – Represents punishment, sin, and societal judgment. It
serves as the first barrier Hester faces when she is publicly shamed, reflecting
the Puritan community’s harshness.
8. The Sunlight – Symbolizes truth, freedom, and divine approval. Sunlight often
avoids Hester, suggesting she is still marked by sin, while it shines on Pearl,
hinting at her innocence and untamed spirit.
9. The Brook – The small stream in the forest mirrors separation and
transformation. It divides Hester and Dimmesdale from Pearl at one point,
symbolizing how their sin has distanced them from purity and innocence.
10. Chillingworth’s Physical Transformation – As Chillingworth becomes
obsessed with revenge, his body deteriorates, symbolizing the destructive
power of vengeance and hatred. His external ugliness reflects his inner
corruption.
11. The Meteor – When a meteor streaks across the sky, the townspeople interpret
it as a sign from God. For Dimmesdale, it symbolizes his hidden guilt, while for
others, it represents an angel, showing how symbols are open to interpretation.
12. Hester’s Needlework – Despite her punishment, Hester becomes a skilled
seamstress, and her elaborate embroidery transforms the meaning of the scarlet
letter, symbolizing strength, independence, and the ability to redefine
identity.

You might also like