FREE ESSAY ON THE SCARLET LETTER

THE SCARLET LETTER

The Scarlet A
Multiple meanings and discussion providing insight into the letter 
The letter "A" was to be worn as a punishment, to be worn in shame, to be worn as
"adulteress." This may not have been clearly and directly stated to the reader, but
throughout reading the book, you gather possible hidden meanings of Hester's scarlet
letter. Although the sense of the meaning "adulteress" is constant, the metaphoric,
emotional, and moralistic meanings of the scarlet letter vary from positive to negative
interpretations throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter. 
The Puritan community was a dark, strict society, feeling indifferent to the humanity of
the woman standing before them on the scaffold, with her infant daughter against her
chest. The beautifully embroidered letter does not glow in the eyes of the people. The
letter shapes the way they look at Hester and the way they treat her. They isolate Hester
not only socially but also through her location, which ultimately causes her own
emotional isolation. "It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary
relations with humanity and inclosing her in a sphere by herself." (40) 
However, the people's attitude does change. It goes through various roller-coasters of
positive and negative meanings throughout the course of the novel. The symbolism of the
scarlet letter is expanded in Chapter Five, Hester at Her Needle. Whereas at first it
represented Hester's adultery and also her needlework skills, it now takes on more
meanings. The letter begins to represent the hidden shame of the community. This shame is
shown through Hester's reactions around the community, like when she almost covers up the
letter with her hand. Preachers will stop in the street and give sermons when they see
Hester. The letter therefore becomes an example of crime and acts as a deterrent for
others in the community. 
Throughout the beginning chapters Hester is isolated and looked down upon by the
Puritans. During "Another View of Hester," Hawthorne explains to the reader that the
scarlet A has yet another layer of meaning, which is in fact another view of Hester. The
very townspeople who once condemned her now believed her scarlet A to stand for her
ability to create her beautiful needlework and for her unselfish assistance to the poor
and sick. They now saw it as a "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," (110) and now believed it to represent the
concept of "able." Many the townspeople realized what a high quality of character Hester
possessed. They would call to each other, "Do you see that woman with the embroidered
badge? It is our Hester- the town's Hester...." (111). 
The changing attitudes of the people in her society did eventually acknowledge the brave,
strong woman Hester always had been. However, they never would know what it was like to
be the person who bore that scarlet letter. Hester knew the A's significance in her own
life to be much different from what was viewed by others. Only Hester herself felt the
letter on her chest. Only Hester felt the change that came over her in those seven years.
Walking out to the scaffold that first day, Hester behaved as the brave, integrity-filled
woman that she knew she was all along. She did not attempt to conceal the symbol that she
wore, for she knew there was nothing to hide. 
Although Hester is clearly not a Puritan, she does show respect for the Puritan code. She
fully acknowledges her sin and she boldly displays it to the world. This face of the A is
a model of "acceptance," a symbol of Hester's respect for herself, and for her life.
Hester did not plan to commit the sin of adultery, because it was not a sin of lust in
her eyes; it was an act of love. Her salvation lies in the truth, the truth of love and
passion. 
The scarlet letter could represent Hester's confinement and solitude in her own world of
grief and thought regarding her action. The single time in the novel that Hester removed
the letter from her bosom she seemed to explode with youth, freedom, and passion. Yet
once it was placed back on her breast, once again she was confined to her own punishment.
It was a punishment she could remove or hide, but her own pride sustains her from the
opening scene until she dies, still bearing the scarlet A on her breast. Hester's own
acceptance of herself and her pride transformed the scarlet letter to being much more
than a symbol, it was a guide, "...her passport into regions where other women dared not
tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers-stern and wild ones-they had
made her strong..." (136). 
By apparently giving the letter the meaning "adulteress," the reader observes that
Hawthorne views Hester as a victim, emphasizing that she is a victim of her society and
her passion, which ultimately stands as her biggest downfall as well as her largest
asset. When referring to Hester in the opening scaffold scene, Hawthorne remarks that
"never had Hester Prynne appeared more lady-like, in the antique interpretation of the
term, than as she issued from the prison" (39). The way Hawthorne chose to illustrate his
character enables the reader to discern the author's attitude toward his subject. 
To Hawthorne, the A is a symbol used to develop Hester's character. It means
"adulteress," but it changes metaphorically throughout the whole novel. For instance, we
see Hawthorne's compassion toward Hester at a point in the play when Reverend Wilson
said, "...A great red letter in the sky,-a letter A,- which we interpret to stand for
Angel." Although it may seem that on the outside this is discussing the death of Governor
Winthrop, on the interior this could be another meaning of the scarlet letter. That
meaning would be that Hester is nothing but an angel even through her sins. He never
takes a firm stance in the ever-changing meanings of the scarlet letter, yet it is
related to his moral vision with the idea of "atonement." 
Hester and her scarlet letter never achieve simplicity. Perhaps rigor is not obtainable
through the Hester's character because of her inflexibility. When dealing with human
nature, the intricacy of life is accented and the variety of interpretation is
strengthened. Beautifully illustrating that statement, Hawthorne challenges his readers
to gain this truth through his work and development of Hester and the intricacy of the A.
The details and different versions of the A all represent different versions of Hester;
the A is a reflection of herself. Hester and her scarlet letter are a perfect example, a
result of passion looked upon from different perspectives. 
Another vision of Hester's letter is that of its color, scarlet. While a discussion of
the meanings of scarlet is a whole other essay in itself, I think it is important to
visualize a few possible meanings for the color. There is the constant comparison to the
rosebush that is vividly growing on the jail's door. This could represent the youth and
freedom of Pearl. It also could represent the passion of Hester's affair. The red also
could represent the A's place on Hester's heart. While the actual meanings of the letter
A are main points, it is also important to recognize the burning color of the letter that
appears on Hester.
Hawthorne's tragic moral vision is illuminated in his beloved character and the letter
she bore. The meaning that directly correlates with Hester's A symbolizes the burning
flames and passion of adultery. But through other likely answers to the riddle of
Hester's A, such as atonement, ability, acceptance, and angel, we are given much insight
as to exactly what Hawthorne was creating as he built up the layers for the meaning of
the scarlet letter. In conclusion, Hester's scarlet letter shows that the universal idea
that there is more than one way to view things is not only a truth, but also a complexity
in itself.