Epsom Salt

“The scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world’s scorn and bitterness and became a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, yet with reverence, too” (Hawthorne 234).

Hester had to deal with her reputation with the A for a long time, and this shows how much she has grown, and how strong she has been continually doing the right thing and eventually gaining respect from the rest of the people. She is able to prove that your mistakes do not define you.

“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 woman’s strength. (Hawthorne 146)

“When the woman has encountered, and lived through, an experience of peculiar severity. If she be all tenderness, she will die” (Hawthorne 148)

You have to be strong in order to survive in the world, even in our world today. If you do not accept reality and learn to adapt and deal with it without losing yourself, you are strong just as hester is.

“her breast with its badge of shame” (hawthorne 146)

In the beginning the letter represented something so horrible, something to be ashamed of

“They had begun to look upon the scarlet letter as a token, not of that one sin, for which she had borne so long and dreary a penance, but of her many good deeds since” (Hawthorne 147)

The letter then later evolves into a new meaning representing all the good hester has done instead of her mistakes

“But sometimes, once in many days,or perchance in many months, she felt an eye-a human eye-upon the ignominious brand, that seemed to give a momentary relief, as if half of agony were shared.” (Hawthorne 79)

Hester isn't alone when it comes to making mistakes and sinning, even today in our world many people can relate to you and there will always be people who understand your problems and share your struggles.

“The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers-stern and wild ones-and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss” (hawthorne 180)

Hester has been through alot but in the end she learned a lot about her society, about sin, and about herself.

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