Why does Hawthorne seem to like symbolism so much in both THE SCARLET LETTER and "The Birthmark"?

Although Hawthorne is often considered a novelist, he thought of
himself as a writer of “romances.” “Romances,” in Hawthorne’s sense, are less “realistic” than
novels. “Romances” are more concerned with expressing ideas than with depicting “reality” in a
photographically accurate way.

In this sense, almost all of
Hawthorne’s fiction – even the short stories – are “romances.” They use symbolism because
Hawthorne is interested in conveying, as powerfully and memorably as possible, his ideas and
themes.

Symbolism encourages readers to think about ideas, yet
symbols can also have powerful emotional impact. By emphasizing symbols so strongly in his
fiction, Hawthorne thereby provokes thought while also achieving a strong emotional impact.
Symbols can also contribute to the unity of Hawthorne’s works, especially their unities of mood
and tone.