The Scarlet Letter

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1. 
   renelane Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   The significance of the letter "A" on Hester's gown stands for adultery. Hester was convicted of adultery , and sentenced to wear the symbol . Later in the novel, it takes on a new meaning "able" for all the good, charitable work Hester does.

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   Posted by renelane on Sunday September 23, 2007 at 4:11 PM
   
   

2. 
   brendawm Teacher
   High School - 9th Grade

   The The Scarlet Letter "A" is meant to be a symbol of shame, her punishment on display for all to see and know what she is and what she has done; instead it becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester. The meaning of the letter shifts overtime. What was originally intended to mark Hester as an adulterer, eventually comes to stand for “Able.”  In the end, some who see it think it marks her as a person of importance and status. To Hester, however, the letter functions as a physical reminder of her affair with Dimmesdale as much as Pearl does.  The letter also seems to point out the ultimate meaninglessness of the community’s system of judgment and punishment. Brenda

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   http://www.enotes.com/scarlet/

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   Posted by brendawm on Sunday September 23, 2007 at 7:09 PM
   
   

3. 
   linda-allen Teacher
   High School - 10th Grade

   Simply, the letter A on Hester's gown brands her as an adulteress for all the world to see. Her sin/crime has been exposed, and wherever she goes, people will know what she has done. It also serves to brand Pearl as the product of adultery.

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   Posted by linda-allen on Monday September 24, 2007 at 6:34 AM
   
   

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