Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

In the novel, “The Scarlet Letter,” written by Nathanial Hawthrone, the scarlet "A" evolves significantly as a symbol throughout the plot. Both Hester, herself, and the Puritans have various interpretations of the Scarlet Letter. In the beginning, the Scarlet Letter which Hester is forced to wear, is a symbol of her “sin of adultery.” Hester’s sin resulted with her having to live this life-long shame of being known as an adulteress with the Scarlet Letter shown to everyone on her chest. However, over time the definition of the Scarlet Letter changed. There were many different views on what Hester’s letter “A” meant. It once meant "Adultures,” which was labeled to her by the Puritan society. Then “Able,” as a way of showing “forgiveness” to

As Hester's character develops and her actions demonstrate her strength and compassion, the meaning of the letter begins to shift. Hawthorne states, "The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her—so much power to do, and power to sympathize—that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength" (page 141). In this quote, Hawthorne describes how some people in the community have come to interpret the Scarlet Letter "A" as meaning "Able" rather than "Adulteress." This interpretation reflects Hester's remarkable strength and ability to help others, despite her punishment and societal condemnation in the view of the Puritans. Hawthorne also states that, “Individuals in private life, meanwhile, had quite forgiven Hester Prynne for her frailty; nay, more, they 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. ‘Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge?’ they would say to strangers. ‘It is our Hester—the town’s own Hester—who is so

Once Hester had returned to New England she claimed the identity made by the Scarlet Letter back. “She had returned, therefore, and resumed of her own free will, for not the sternest magistrate of that iron period would have imposed it—resumed the symbol of which we have related so dark a tale. Never afterwards did it quit her bosom.” (page 227). This describes Hester's decision to continue wearing the Scarlet Letter "A" on her chest despite her public disgrace and punishment for adultery. This phrase also underlines that Hester took this decision on her own volition. The word "resumed" may indicate that Hester believes that wearing the Scarlet Letter is an integral part of her identity, and that the emblem is not something she can easily remove, but rather something she must constantly carry with her. When returning, Hester also began to counsel and help some of the women to assure them that everything would be okay after suffering with afflictions like Hester did. “Hester comforted and counselled them, as best she might. She assured them, too, of her firm belief that, at some brighter period, when the world should have grown ripe for it, in Heaven’s own time, a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation