Uncommon, classic, and most of all, beloved works of literature such as Lord of the Flies by William Golding and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, contain the common feature of symbolism. Although some readers and critics over-analyze the use of symbolism in these novels, both Golding and Hawthorne create a tapestry of symbolism which contains vibrant colors of love, hate, safety, authority, and society, all of which are represented in some way throughout the story. Not only did these authors develop a meaning for something as simple as a sea shell representing leadership and order or the forest representing safety from the watchful eyes of villagers, but they also created characters who represented something more than themselves. Both authors creatively and intricately weave together a story with a cast full of symbols and hidden ironies.

One common symbol seen in both novels is the forest. In the...