The Scarlet Letter Question #1

The meaning of Hester's Scarlet Letter initially means "Adultery". Hester owns this though making her A, "with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread." Later,the meaning of Hester's letter changes to "Able" or even "Angel" as the community's view of her changes. Governer Bellingham's servant suggest that the letter symbolizes Hester's upper-class, saying it means "Aristocrat" or "Authoritarian". It has "the effect of the cross on a nun’s bosom." The letter functions in either a supernatural or human way. For example, Hester sews the letter into herself (human), and for the supernatural, the letter has been seemingly burned into Arthur's chest. Arthur suggests that God has done this to him. Also, the letter appears for a moment when it streaks across the sky in the form of a meteor (also supernatural).

The central symbol of the story- the scarlet letter itself. It signifies that the person has committed "Adultery". that's the reason why Hester wears the scarlet “A” on her chest. How it functions in the novel is in the beginning of the book all the people looked at Hester as if she was a terrible person when they saw the letter "A" on her chest. How the meaning changes over time is that people start to see that Hester is not a terrible person and that see is very graceful. The people and governor Bellingham see Hester in a different way in a good instead of a bad way.The letter "A" appears momentarily in the form of a meteor that flashes across the sky.

In the novel, Hester Prynne wears a scarlet letter in the shape of an "A" on her chest. The scarlet letter originally stood for Adultery in the beginning of the story. Hester was known to have committed the sin of adultery; "she hath raised a great scandal" in "godly Master Dimmesdale's church." In further explanation of Hester's sin, she was "the wife of a certain learned man," "the doctor they call Roger Chillingworth." Roger sent Hester to Massachusetts but did not reunite with her, so he was rumored to be lost. While he was away, Hester had an affair with Boston's minister, Arthur Dimmesdale. The scandalous affair could not be kept a secret because their baby, Pearl, was living evidence. The scarlet letter functions as a symbol for other citizens to see how cruel Hester was. One female in town believed that "this woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die." Although Hester attempted to cover the mark, "the pang of it will be always in her heart" and everyone would see through her.
As the storyline progresses, the meaning of the scarlet letter is interpreted differently. When a meteor flew across the sky, it appeared as "a great red letter in the sky--the letter A." The sexton believed that the "A" stood for Angel, representing Governor Winthrop. Winthrop was the first elected governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the sexton thought that Winthrop made a special short appearance in the sky as a religious symbol. However, as time passes on, the scarlet letter's meaning changes again. The townsfolk "said that it meant Able," portraying how strong Hester was, with her womanly strength. "The letter was the symbol of her calling." Hester's good qualities that began to surface and the positive deeds she had done, such as being kind to the poor and helpful to the sick, brought the town to realize her true character. "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 signifcation." The society did not mind Hester as much and eventually built respect for her. The letter was also compared to having the same "effect of the cross on a nun's bosom. "It imparted to the wearer a kind of sacredness, which enabled her to walk securely amid all peril." With all of the cruel talk and doubtful glances Hester had received, she endured it all and shone through her mistakes. However, she was still not happy with herself and was "determined to redeem her error" later on.
The meaning of the symbol was originally negative, but transformed into a positive sign as the mistakes in the story were recognized and dealt with.

The symbol is red letter "A", it signifies adultery. When Hester fornicated with the reverend while she was still considered married, she got pregnant, spent some time in jail, then received the symbol. It's purpose in the beginning was to Ridicule her, and to set an example to all other women that this is what will happen if you cheat on your husband. But towards the end of the book we realize that the letter really didn't serve its purpose. Because Hester really didn't care what society thought of her. We see this in the part of the book that describes how she kept on knitting clothes for poor just as she had before and that her life hadn't changed much since she started wearing the red "A". Since the people in the colony notice that she doesn't seem to mind the "A" they even talk about having her get rid of it.

The Scarlett letter itself means "Adultery". The "A" on her chest stands for adultery and she wears it because she herself is in fact one. When Hester was married she had relations with the reverend and got pregnant with her baby known in the book as, Pearl. The "A" that Hester wears is the main symbol in the book. it symbolizes punishment. As the book progresses, over time the symbol changes. Hester wore the letter as a statement. Even though what she did was wrong she didn't care what the people though of her. Over time the meaning of the "A" changes. At first it meant punishment, but it soon changes to "grace" as people view Hester a graceful and kind person.

In the novel,"The Scarlet Letter", the scarlet letter "A" itself is the symbol for adultery, which according to Christianity is one of the highest sins that a human can commit. As punishment for this sin any person found to have committed adultery is doomed to wear the scarlet letter "A" on their clothing for the remainder of their life. In the novel the scarlet letter's function is to brandish the sinner and shame them so others know their sin, it also shows how the society was extremely unforgiving and judgmental. An example of this judgmental attitude is illustrated when Hester walks into the market giving no one reason to hate her yet once the people in the market see her letter they begin to whisper and talk about her saying that she worships the devil and making up other extravagant tales. The scarlet letter's meaning changes during the novel when Hester observes the devilish behavior of her daughter, Pearl. Pearl is the product of Hester's adulterous relationship so her daughter is viewed as the human embodiment of the scarlet letter, a reminder to all of the sin. Hester has discussions with the magistrates and the mayor where she confesses that Pearl's presence in and of itself is a punishment to the same extent the symbolic scarlet letter "A" is on the chest of her shirt.