Hester Prynne, through the eyes of the Puritans, is an extreme
             sinner; she has gone against the Puritan ways, committing adultery. For
             this irrevocably harsh sin, she must wear a symbol of shame for the rest of her life. "On the breast of her gown, in a fine red cloth surrounded by an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter 'A.'" Hester's scarlet "A" serves as a public symbol of her private sin. Because Hester is able to declare her guilt openly, she is freed from excessive remorse, and her sin serves to enrich and dignify rather than to destroy her. The letter makes her stronger and more an individual. As foreshadow as Hawthorne speaks of the scarlet letter, "..It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself," Hester indeed does isolate herself, and stays ".... out of the sphere of social activity.." and moves out to an isolated cottage. Hester decides that "Here....had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment, the torture of her daily shame would at length purge her soul and work out another purity than that which she had lost; more saintlike, because of the result of matyrdom. Hester Prynne, therefore did not flee." This is where she sinned, this shall be where she suffers and gives penance.
             As expected, Hester is at first shunned and humiliated by the townspeople, who ignore their own faults and project them onto Hester, and then later their children project them onto Pearl, who does not have the "divine maternity" of Hester, who can do no wrong. Hester behaves with decorum and grace,
             helping others who are hungry, sick, or in need. Slowly the disdain of
             the townspeople turns to admiration, "...Many people refused to interpet the scarlet "A" by it's orginial signification. They said it meant "Able"..." and Hester becomes a
             ...