Saturday, March 19, 2011

What is the significance of the letter "A" on Hester's gown?

The simple answer is that the "A" simply stands for adultary. However, I believe it stands for the conflict within the story between Puritan society (rigid/does not allow for emotional flexibility) and Hester's natural beauty and dignity.

The "A" is supposed to have a negative stigma attached to it. However, many of the same people who believe this see the "A" formed by the meteor as meaning Angel. The two A's are not only the same letter but similar in color.

 The contradictions in the society and in Hester herself continue through the book and are exemplified in this letter "A".

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