Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" incorporates symbols to express the power of sin and foreshadow the effects they have on the characters. These symbols affect the main characters in the novel and play a major role in the theme of the story. It expresses that sin is unavoidable, and should be forgiven and learned from.
The primary place where the first hint is given is at Hester's public condemnation. Arthur Dimmesdale is chosen to demand that Hester tells the identity of who her lover is. While everybody acts badly toward Hester because of her sin, Dimmesdale acts in the opposite way. He speaks in a sweet, rich, deep voice toward her. He shows mercy toward Hester and when Hester refuses to tell the identity of her lover, he doesn't press her any further. Also at Hester's public condemnation, there is another clue given. Pearl directs her gaze on Dimmesdale and reaches out towards him.
Many times throughout the novel, the events and actions involving Pearl hint at who her father is. While at the Governor's Hall, Hester pleads with the Governor to keep Pearl. When the Governor denies Hester the right to keep Pearl, she turns to Dimmesdale and cries for him to speak for her. "Thou knowest, - for thou hast sympathies which these men lack!" (77).This cry by Hester and the way Dimmesdale talks hint at a previous relationship" they watched themselves. And they felt uncomfortable after. They felt self consciousness" (Lawrence 94).Also, later on at the Governor's Hall, Pearl runs up to Dimmesdale and kisses him on the cheek. Since Pearl is almost supernatural, this event encourages one to think that Pearl and Dimmesdale have a special relationship of some sort. Another hint by Pearl is when she and her mother are in the cemetery. After placing prickly burrs around the "A", she throws a prickly burr on Dimmesdale.
The other hints at who the father is are shown during Dimmesdale's time with Chillingworth.
