The book Scarlet Letter is full of symbolism, the colors black, red and gray are used as symbols to represent the characteristics and feelings of the characters in this book. First of all, in the book The Scarlet Letter, the color black is seen as a symbol of darkness and dishonesty throughout the book. The forest in The Scarlet Letter represents a place of freedom and escape from societal norms. It is also a symbol of darkness and temptation, where characters may give in to their desires and act outside of their usual moral code. The forest in The Scarlet Letter symbolizes both freedom and darkness. ~ The Scarlet Letter, novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published. It is considered a masterpiece of American literature and a classic moral study. Summary. The novel is set in a Puritan New England village. The main character is Hester Prynne, a young woman who has had a child out of wedlock. Hester thinks she's a widow, but