Hester Prynne has sinned against God by committing adultery. She has admitted to it and is not afraid of the consequences. One may think that she should leave the town so she does not have to carry the shame with her, but she cannot because her heart still holds a special place for the father of her child, Mr. Dimmesdale. Hester is a symbol of strength to the people of the city because she inspires them for admitting her sin since they too have sins that they are afraid to admit. Though they hold Hester in a low place, they cannot help but be interested in her, for if Hester can find redemption,

Hawthorne portrays his dark transcendentalist message in an imaginative way by using these symbols. He carefully applies these symbols in the story to make them evolve throughout the novel in order to provide a better understanding of his message to the audience. It is shown that the characters who follow their heart, such as Hester, gain more respect from the reader than the characters who deny their heart, such as Dimmesdale. The symbolism proves that by following intuition there is no promise of joy or reward, but it is necessary to follow that intuition anyway because if one does not then they will be haunted by it and struggle with it forever.

She links the two together and understands the relationship between it all. Mistress Hibbins and Pearl are unlike the rest of the people in the town which may be part of the explanation for them being able to see that the burden of the “A” is being carried by more than one. To bear this burden shows the differences in reality through the two who carry it. The way they both deal with the “A” (the sin) reveals their personal integrity, through Hester the “A” shows strength, and through Mr. Dimmesdale it shows weakness.

Because Hester mingled with the Black Man, she carries a mark brought upon by her one sin against God. Again they speak of the Black Man who is now approaching.

Mr. Dimmesdale physically punished himself time after time in an attempt to find redemption, yet it only caused more shame upon his heart that brought him further guilt. Though he knew from instinct that private discipline would never bring him salvation, he refused to follow his intuition for he believed it would not bring him reward or happiness. Through the development of his character the audience can clearly see that Dimmesdale had no personal integrity or any morals because of his inability to follow his heart. He symbolizes disgrace for not being able to clear his own chest of the shame he carries and for hiding from it.

Some topics in this essay:
Hibbins Pearl, Dimmesdale Pearl, Puritan England, Hester Prynne, Dimmesdale Black, Mistress Hibbins, Letter Hawthorne, Black Man’, Dimmesdale Hester, Hester Pearl, scarlet letter, personal integrity, people city, follow intuition, hester’s sin, dark transcendentalist, “a” represents, mistress hibbins, beyond physical senses, transcendentalist message, reward follow,