Cursed with the permanent mark of adultery on her breast, Hester Prynne, the main character of Nathaniel Hawthorne's book, The Scarlet Letter, faces many difficulties and disgrace. Referring to these difficulties, Hawthorne describes the scarlet letter as the forbidden mark of adultery. When he first meets Hester, the scarlet letter is a symbol of adultery and disgrace. As the story progresses, the scarlet letter evolves into a symbol of wisdom and identity. Hawthorne uses each different meaning of the scarlet letter to make a comment on Puritan society. While many readers view the scarlet letter as simply a mark of adultery, it is actually a symbol of Hester's identity. At first, the scarlet letter acquires a negative connotation. In the novel's prologue, while exploring the customs attic, the curator finds the scarlet letter: "my eyes fixed on the old scarlet letter...certainly, it had a deep meaning...as if the letter was not from red cloth, but of red-hot iron” (Hawthorne 31). Even years after Hester Prynne's death, the Scarlet Letter continues to have a negative impact on anyone who looks at it. Originally, the scarlet letter is intended to shame Hester. While she was initially publicly prosecuted for her crime, a young wife in the crowd mentions, "whether she covers the mark as she pleases, the pang will always be in her heart" (49). This immediately sets Hester apart from the rest of society and implies that the letter will be a part of her for the rest of her life. During his trial, Hawthorne depicted Hester's elegant, dignified beauty and the crowd's eyes drawn to the scarlet letter by stating, "it had the effect of a spell, drawing it from the midst of the paper." ....ways.While many readers view the scarlet letter as a mark of adultery and Hester Prynne as a sinful woman. Nathaniel Hawthorne evolved the scarlet letter into numerous elements that transformed it into a symbol of pride. In doing so, Hawthorne makes a social commentary on Puritan society by implying that it sees things a certain way. Additionally, he uses the scarlet letter to show that good and evil are essentially the same. Although the true story of Hester Prynne, Pearl, and the Scarlet Letter is still unknown, Hawthorne's use of symbolism causes the reader to see Hester in a new light. Ultimately, he uses the scarlet letter to express to the reader that humans can be misunderstood and that the individual cannot be defined by society. Works Cited The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The scarlet letter. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House Literary Touchstone, 2005. Print.