Scarlet Letter A Symbolism

Symbols in all books represent a deeper meaning than what is perceived. In The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, many symbols are present and tell a lot about the book, and the primary symbol that is constantly repeated is the scarlet letter A that was put on Hester’s chest. The letter A developed the theme of sin, because the letter was a direct result of sin. The A also represents the theme of hypocrisy within Salem. Evilness and revenge is another theme developed by letter A on Hester’s chest. Overall the letter A in The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, gives a deeper meaning to the three important themes of sin, hypocrisy within society, evilness and revenge throughout the book.
When Hester was charged with
But the letter highlighted the hypocritical behavior of Salem and its people. “She would become the general symbol at which the preacher and moralist might point, and in which they might vivify and embody their images of a woman's frailty and sinful passion," (pg 66, Hawthorne). If Salem was calling Hester the prime example of a sinner, then what did all the other sinners in Salem represent. Puritan beliefs expressed the idea that everybody is a sinner and that it is up to god to decide your fate. That being said, everybody should have been called out and not just Hester. Salem was telling its people not to sin, though also telling its people that everybody is a sinner. Hypocrisy was truly evident in Salem and the letter significantly showed how it was. But even Salem’s leaders were being hypocrites and the primary example was Reverend Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale was Hester’s secret lover and secretly contained the letter but in his soul. “His spirit lacked the strength that could have borne up, as thine has been, beneath a burden like thy scarlet letter" ( Page ?, Hawthorne). Chillingworth was basically saying that Dimmesdale was nothing more than a hypocrite. He can preach powerful sermons about the consequences of sin but at the end he still commits it and hides it. The letter A sparked hypocrisy within Salem as as the evilness within