ve when she committed adultery. She did sin and should have been punished for it, but the length to which she suffered was exceedingly unmerited. Furthermore, Hester endures the punishment without a word against it. In some ways Hester is made to be the “perfect” woman, because she follows her heart when she had an unholy relationship with Reverend Dimmesdale but when she is punished for it she does not fight back but makes the best out of the dire situation. At the beginning of the novel Hester struggles with her recognition of the letter’s symbolism just as people struggles with their moral choices (Van Kirk 92). Her sensitivity with society’s victims turns her symbolic meaning from a person whose life was originally twisted and repressed to a strong and sensitive woman with respect for the humanity of others (Van Kirk 92). Years later, the negative treatment of Hester no longer takes place. She is well respected by the townspeople for her philanthropic and virtuous ways: “Her breast, with the badge of shame, was but the softer pillow for a head that needed one” (Marcus). “Such helpfulness was found in her, so much power to do and power to sympathize, that many people refused to interpret the scarlet ‘A’ by its original signification. They said that it meant ‘Able’; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a women’s strength” (Novel Guide). Since her character is strongly tied to the scarlet letter, Hester represents the public sinner who changes and learns from her own sorrow to understand the humanity of others. Often human beings who suffer great loss and life-changing experiences become survivors with an increased understanding and sympathy for the human losses of others. Hester is such a symbol (Van Kirk 92). The Scarlet Letter was a masterfully written piece by Hawthorne. He displays the errors in Puritan ways, and demonstrates the role that wo...
