The two are exact opposites of each other, one being a place of sin and darkness while the other is delicate and beautiful. Hawthorne uses this juxtaposition to foreshadow the “sweet moral blossom” (Hawthorne 42) that takes place later in the story. The “moral blossom” taking place is once again that of the main character, Hester. Hawthorne uses the rose bush’s growth in a place of sin to represent Hester’s transformation in the midst of her sin. Hester still becomes a beautiful person with “so much power to do and power to sympathize.” (Hawthorne 145) while facing the cloud of sin she is surrounded by. In another instance of Hawthorne literally putting a symbol on a tee for us to use for connection is the birth of Pearl. Pearl is literally born in the act of Hester’s sin, yet becomes a normal, even beautiful child, just as the rose bush grew in front of the prison door. When asked where she was born Pearl states “that she was plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison door.” (Hawthorne 99) even further solidifying the connection between her and the rose
The two are exact opposites of each other, one being a place of sin and darkness while the other is delicate and beautiful. Hawthorne uses this juxtaposition to foreshadow the “sweet moral blossom” (Hawthorne 42) that takes place later in the story. The “moral blossom” taking place is once again that of the main character, Hester. Hawthorne uses the rose bush’s growth in a place of sin to represent Hester’s transformation in the midst of her sin. Hester still becomes a beautiful person with “so much power to do and power to sympathize.” (Hawthorne 145) while facing the cloud of sin she is surrounded by. In another instance of Hawthorne literally putting a symbol on a tee for us to use for connection is the birth of Pearl. Pearl is literally born in the act of Hester’s sin, yet becomes a normal, even beautiful child, just as the rose bush grew in front of the prison door. When asked where she was born Pearl states “that she was plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison door.” (Hawthorne 99) even further solidifying the connection between her and the rose