This virtually flawless essay indicates the profound, abstract symbolism of the letter "A" other than Adultery. There are 3 different points that I argue, along with verbatim excerpts from the story supporting my interpretations. Excellent intro and outro! What does the Letter A Symbolize?         In Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, the letter A serves as obviously a direct reference to the adulterous act that forms the overlay for the story. However, further analysis reveals many more meanings …showed first 75 words of 672 total…

…showed last 75 words of 672 total…whole a touchstone of sin and redemption. Pearl "announces " the sinners, Hester is "able" to redeem herself and transform to grace from her state of exile and degradation, and finally, the letter A becomes the symbol for society's hypocrisy that so often stands between sin and redemption, never allowing the transition of one to the other. Therefore, The Scarlet Letter remains a classic piece of literature in its universal portrayal of an ongoing human dilemma.