Scarlett Letter -Symbolism of "a"

Symbolism of "A"

In Hester's time the puritan's had to conform to the catholic/puritan ways, or there would be consequences. Hester Prynne's "A" has different meanings to different people through out the novel. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne creates symbolism for the letter "A" ,by defining it as Adultery, Able, and Angel at different times to different characters.

Hester Prynne commits adultery and gets pregnant. Now she has to wear an "A" on her chest for her actions. Hester in the beginning of the book feels ashamed of it, "... the mother of this child- stood fully revealed before the crowd, it seemed to be her first impulse to clasp the infant closely to her bosom" (Hawthorne 140). Hester doesn't let the people get to her and she conforms to the community. Hester tries to make the scarlet letter look beautiful, "On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread appeared the letter "A"(46). The "A" still has the meaning of adultery, but people are impressed by her skills of embroidery. Hester has to wear her "A" for Adultery.

Everyone sees the "A" in the sky for a Comet, but everyone sees it in various ways. All of the towns people wonder what it means , so Dimmesdale tells them, "But you your reverence of the portent that was seen last night?""- a great red letter in the sky - the letter "A" which we interrupt to stand for "Angel"(142). Dimmesdale explains to everyone that it simple meant "angel". When Dimmesdale sees for the first time, he feels guilty "... -the letter "A"- marked out in lines of dull red light... but with no such shape as his guilty imagination gave... that another's guilt have seen another symbol in it"(140). Dimmesdale feels guilty ,because nobody knows about he is the father of Hester's child. Dimmesdale views the "A" in secret as adultery , but in he tells everyone else it means angel.

People ,in the town, start to view Hester's "A" in a more positive way. Hester helps the outcasts and prisoners of the town, "The letter was the symbol of her calling"(145). Some people thought this is for the good of her. Townspeople thought the "A" thought her lesson, "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 say that it means "Able"(145). People view her as "Able" to do things in the community. People start to look at Hester in a positive way, because the "A".

The "A" was viewed as Able, Angel, and Adultery.The "A" in The Scarlet Letter were symbolized