What does the rose bush symbolize? The Scarlet Letter

Rose bush at the entrance door of the prison symbolizes nature with its many characteristics i. e. hope, love, strength, solace, friendship.

Explanation:

"The Scarlet Letter" (1850) is Nathaniel Hawthorne's tragedy novel. It tells the story (from 1642-49) of woman named Hester Prynne who conceives a daughter through an illegal affair and is then imprisoned and outcast from the town.

There is a rose bush at the entrance of her prison. It symbolizes nature which adopts and survives in the worst of the situations and stills produces beautiful things (rose from rose bush and Pearl - her daughter from herself). As Pearl (her daughter is her only source of comfort, strength and solace in a cruel world, so is the rose bush (symbolizing nature) a symbol of strength, hope and solace, she (Hester) derives from her connection with nature. It will be rose bush (as nature) which will take care of Hester Prynne, and in turn she will take care of her own rose.

It also symbolizes Hester Prynne herself, because as rose bush gives birth to roses, she gives birth and nourishes her own rose (Pearl).

It is important to note that Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American Romantic write, and nature plays an important role in works of Romantic writer.