Real Meaning of the Letter

[lemoise35]

In the novel, Hawthorne never writes exactly what the scarlet letter 'A' stands for. While it is most likely assumed that it represents the word adultery, do you think Hawthorne intentionally left the meaning up for interpretation? What do you think the letter could stand for besides adultery?

[bezhang38]

Hawthorne intentionally leaves the meaning of "A" up for interpretation because "A" can stand for many different things at different times in the novel. For example, in the beginning of the novel, "A" represented Hester's adultery and the shame she felt towards her act of sin. However, in chapter 5, the "A" can stand for an advertisement of Hester's extravagant and skillful needlework. The meaning of "A" will, most likely, continue to change throughout the novel and have multiple meanings and interpretations.

[dacui38]

A could stand for adultery and later advertisement.
However I believe for Hawthorne this A stands for "Angel". Throughout the novel Hawthorne has made countless references to Hester's holiness which is very ironic. He has called a previous dissenter of Puritan society, Anne Hutchinson, a Saint. On page 77, Hawthorne describes Hester as a saint and a martyr for enduring the shame, which is represented by the Scarlet Letter. So in Hawthorne's eyes, the Scarlet Letter has become Hester's sin and her redemption, which in turn makes her into an angel and saint.

[natuppe35]

The "A" could also stand for how Hester is alone in the world due to her sin. Hawthorne constantly references to the separate "sphere" Hester lives in due her shame that is ostracized in the Puritan society. On page 78, Hawthorne reinforces the idea that Hester is alone when he describes her house as "out of the sphere of that social activity which already marked the habits of the emigrants." Even though Hester is connected to the Puritans through her needle work, they continue to refuse her charities and attempts to conform because her sin sets her apart from the consensus.

[dacui38]

It seems that my assumption was correct, that A could stand for angel. The Sexton talks to Dimmesdale and says, "But did your reverence hear the protent that was seen last night? A great red letter in the sky,--the letter A,--which we interpret to stand for Angel. For, as our good Governor Winthrop was made an angel this past night,".

Again, this is ironic as the Puritans interpreted the A as angel for Winthrop but the A on Hester as Adultery. However, Hawthorne does interpret the A for angel on Hester.

[dacui38]

Upon reading chapter 13, the Puritan community starts using another word to describe Hester Prynne: Able. "The letter was her symbol of calling. 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 significagtion. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength." (158).

Though living in shame, Hester Prynne still helps others--she donates money to the poor and helps the sick in times of need. She lives a sinless life, thus converting to the Puritan society to such a degree that the Puritans even start respecting her.