Scarlet Letter Symbols

Dreaming Out Loud in East Lansing: a love letter to, from, and for the fans

As Bono crooned a question in the pre-Motown girl-group sensation “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (made famous by the Shirelles) before ramping into the stratosphere with the stadium-rattling “Where The Streets Have No Name,” the band’s fans from Michigan, the Midwest, and the world let their reply of “Yes” be known during the encore’s familiar lyrics, in their collectively screaming, singing, shaking bodies.

Seeing my first show on the last leg of the postponed and rescheduled North American 360 tour (having taken in four in September-October 2009), I traveled to Michigan with fellow fans, family members, and best friends – with all three with me Sunday seeing their first 360 show, with one seeing the band for the first time ever (after following the band since the 1980s). Walking to the car and waiting in traffic after the show, Laurie Britt-Smith described the set as a “love letter to fans.” At her first U2 concert, my best friend who’s accompanied me to countless rock shows and festivals for the last two years, many in much more intimate venues, remarked at the effectiveness of the techno-cathedral stage and its respected ring of a ramp, where the band immerses themselves into the crowd with a sense of courage, surrender, and abandon she feels other bands lack.

And then, whenever he stopped to talk, Bono carried on and on (and on!) in a ragged and raspy post-Glastonbury voice about how great it was to be in the “verdant green” of East Lansing (a nod to school colors), extolling American ideals and campus activism at places like Michigan State to support the goals of the One campaign or Amnesty International. Before “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” Bono took humility and humor to tell the university-town crowd that U2’d never been to college, that they were still students, still searching, still learning.

Overall, the combined and glowing consensus of my show companions put into perspective some of the complaints and concerns I’ve recently heard on the discussion boards from the more hardcore fan community about the alleged safety of current setlist stasis. Clear to me after last night, there’s nothing safe about the 24 songs chosen or their order of performance. With the exception of “Stay,” “Miss Sarajevo,” and the Amnesty-themed segue of “Scarlet” into “Walk On,” folks around us were on their feet for the entire show. And to some of the casual fans that were our neighbors among the metal benches of Spartan Stadium, some of the tracks clearly trekked into the realm of the risky, unexpected, and experimental, so ferociously featuring the rugged electrified thumps and bumps of each member’s contribution.

The Scarlet Letter Symbols | Lucas's Blog

By Nathiniel Hawthorn, one can see similar references; Hawthorne uses objects that occur naturally in nature, as symbols to larger themes, which, reoccur constantly throughout the book. In his book, Hawthorne uses roses, weeds, poisonous plants, and the forest as symbols that reflect persons in the book and themes.

In his book, Hawthorne uses roses as a major symbol that constantly reoccurs throughout the book; he uses roses to represent purity, and forgiveness. In the first scene Hawthorne describes the rose bush outside of the prison that Hester was being kept; it symbolizes the purity of nature, how it can stand to grow outside of a prison, a place that is dirty, and filled with evil. Later in the book Hawthorne uses the rose to compare the beauty of Hester, and her daughter, Pearl with her red hair and natural beauty.

Another major theme that Hawthorne uses are weeds; Throughout the book he uses weeds as a reference to ill being. He uses this as a reference to Arthur Dimmsdale, whose life forces are slowly wilting away from the guilt that has derived from his sin.

In addition, Hawthorne uses poisonous plants a symbol that hints towards Chillingworth. The poisonous plants represent both the physical appearance of Chillingworth and his evil intentions. One can differentiate poisonous plants from other due to the characteristics the plant holds; Chillingworth is similar to the poisonous plants, he does not look like the rest of the people; his physical characteristics can be described as more malicious than others’. In addition, poisonous plants do harm to its victim; Chillingworth has a similar effect. He shares a relationship with Dimmsdale, although he claims to have only the best intentions for this dear friend, he is actually slowly terminating his very being.

Also in contrast to the roses, which symbolize purity, Hawthorne uses the forest as symbol of evil, secrecy and darkness. In his book Hawthorne uses the forest as the setting for many different scenes; he describes the gathering of the witches, which takes place in the forest; it is used as the birth place of Hester and Dimmsdale’s sin; and it is the place where “the black man” lives.

Symbols play a major role.

The scarlet letter

The Scarlet Letter

CliffsNotes on Hawthorne's The scarlet letter

The Scarlet Letter Study Guide

Pearl’s Twilight Nature in "The Scarlet Letter": Emblem of Sin Or Self-fulfilling Prophecy?