"Scarlet," "red" - colors symbolic of sexuality. Since this is a story about a girl's coming of age, the red hood, or scarlet shawl, might represent a girl's first menstruation, or a loss of virginity."Scarlet," "red" - colors symbolic of sexuality. Since this is a story about a girl's coming of age, the red hood, or scarlet shawl, might represent a girl's first menstruation, or a loss of virginity.