Redemption In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

In the Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne expresses that redemption is possible through commendable actions. Hester Prynne, the protagonist, works to change the way viewers interpret The Scarlet Letter from its original significance. Her punishment pushed it’s sinful meaning,, however, her engagement in various acts prove otherwise. Although many scholars have argued that the embroidered ‘A’ in the book represents the path of sin and shame, a careful examination suggest that it represents a path of redemption. Hester is looked upon as the outcast of society. Being convicted of adultery led others of the Puritan community to assume her existence as sinful. They gathered in the center of the town to watch her be humiliated as punishment for

Society “had begun to look upon the scarlet letter as the token, not of that one sin, for which she had borne so long and dreary a penance, but of her many good deeds since.” (Hawthorne 193). Her good qualities were spreading among those of townspeople and rulers within the Puritan community. She became one of greater wisdom, and a shoulder to lean on if needed. The letter A had not stood for ‘adulterer’ any longer, but for ‘able’. It expressed Hester Prynne's womanly strength (Hawthorne 192). Hester latter became a counselor to those who needed her comfort and knowledge. Hawthorne seemed to foreshadow this in the book as she “ sometimes, once in many days, or perchance in many months, she felt an eye-- a human eye--upon the ignominious brand, that seemed to give a momentary relief,as if half of her agony was shared.” (Hawthorne 100). This showed that other people had sinned as well, however it took Hester’s fall from society for them to accept their problems. Although, she can not help but linger on her past sin as people present their perplexities to her looking for guidance. Hawthorne describes that she assures women of a lofty era of love, wisdom, and happy