"A" Sinful Living
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Committing adultery during the early 1600's was considered a serious sin, and all who committed it were punished severely. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne was guilty of committing adultery, and therefore was punished by standing in front of a crowd to be ridiculed, and being required to don a scarlet "A" standing for adultery. What seems to be a contradiction in this story is the relationship between Hester and her child, Pearl Prynne. On the one hand, Pearl is Hester's child and the love of her life. However, Pearl is also a direct consequence of the sin. Hester only feels real comfort when Pearl lies sound asleep.
The women of Hester's town gawk at her symbol of shame and criticize her for having committed adultery. The elaborate letter "A," however, seems to signify that Hester is proud of what she has done and she accepts the "sin" just as much as she accepts her child, the result of her sinful act. As Hester stands atop the scaffold, she recognizes the man who happens to be her husband. Hester's husband, Master Prynne, changed his name to Roger Chillingworth to keep his true identity (as Hester's husband) a secret...