Beginning of Essay
Symbol is a person, place, thing or event that has meaning in itself and that also stands for something more than itself. "Symbolists believed that direct statements of feeling were inadequate; instead they called for new and striking symbols to evoke complexities ....

Middle of Essay
.... as a sinner. Then after several years, the meaning of "A" change to able, for her ability to create her beautiful needlework and for her unselfish assistance to the poor and sick. "The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her -- so much power to do and power to sympathize -- that many people refused to interpret the scarlet 'A' by its original signification"(Hawthorne 141). At this point, the townspeople no longer think Hester as the Adulteress, "Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge? It is our Hester- the town's own Hester- who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflic ....