Additionally, Hester mentions that another way she could be freed of the badge is if it transformed to mean something else. This eventually happens in the novel when Hester begins to help people in the town. The narrator says, "Such helpfulness was found in her-so much power to do and power to sympathize, - that many people refused to interpret the A by its original signification. They said it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength" (106). The passage supports the concept of the truth being permitted to change only once it's accepted because Hester was only seen as an outcast of society, and represented everything negative about humanity, but now, because she is doing good works she can finally be seen for who she really is, an able person trying to improve society. Furthermore, the passage indicates that the reason for why she was so helpful was because she was able to sympathize. This exemplifies how Hester's experience of being in a difficult situation has made her a better person because now she is not only able to understand the pain some are in, but also help them get through it better than some others would.
Unlike Hester, Reverend Dimmesdale is unable to fully admit and therefore accept the sin that he committed, which leads him to suffer from the guilt and shame that the sins brings with it. Dimmesdale's awareness of his sin yet inability to fully admit it can be shown when he approaches Hester and Pearl who are returning home after Governor Winthrop's funeral. During this interaction the Reverend intends to make up for not confessing by enduring the consequences with Hester and Pearl. Dimmesdale tries to do this by standing on the same scaffold where Hester and Pearl were forced to the day that Hester was being punished for her sin. While standing together Hester asks her father, Dimmesdale, if he will stand there with them again in the light of day while there are people around as opposed to standing at night when nobody can see them, to which Dimmesdale responds, "Not then, PearlAt the great judgment dayThen, and there, before the judgment-seat, thy mother and thou, and I, must stand together.