n elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold-thread, appeared the letter A. ... allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony." (Narrator P. 51). Hester displays her "A" proudly, which illustrates her strength and willingness to acknowledge her sin. She does not hide or become a victim of the malevolent actions the town enforces. The narrator then refers Hester to a biblical character. "...So picturesque in her...divine maternity..." (Narrator P. 54) With the divine characteristics she possesses, the judgment of the Puritan society is shown to be ill natured. The contrast between the hostility of the public and Hester's response reflects the ignorance of the Puritans and their poor position of judgment. The narrator then describes the scaffold, which Hester is sentenced to public humiliation. The narrator states, "It was, in short, the platform of the pillory; and...of wood and iron", (Narrator P. 53). The author describes the scaffold as an "instrument of punishment". The society, lacking the understanding of Hester's reason for committing adultery, is quick to judge the evil within her actions. They do not care for the origin of the sin, but only the consequence of wrongdoing to set an example for the town. Hawthorne's portrayal of Hester's strength and the ignorance of the town display his sympathy towards Hester and her act of adultery. The origin of the adultery and the reason for sin is a strong evidence of Hawthorne's sympathy towards the sinners and his rebellious views towards the Puritans. In the forest, Hester and Dimmesdale discuss the truth about Chillingworth. Dimmesdale becomes shocked and destroyed by the truth and Hester tries to comfort Dimmesdale. The narrator explains, "Heaven, likewise, had frowned upon her...could not bear, and live!" (Narrator P. 191). In this quote, Hester clearly displays emotional and affectionate fe...