Weeds and Rosebush Outside the Prison-Door

Hawthorne compares the weeds to the rosebush in this opening scene. 

Weeds symbolize

  • danger (when poisonous)
  • a threat to the health of the rest of the garden
  • something overlooked
  • something undesired

A rosebush symbolizes

  • beauty
  • power (thorns)
  • boldness
  • strength (it has survived on its own somehow)
  • rebellion (red color)

Vegetation will be a very important theme throughout the novel. This entire first chapter introduces the entire theme of the work. To read more about vegetation symbolism and to translate this first chapter into modern language, go to this link and search around.