Cursed by the permanent mark of adultery on her chest, Hester Prynne, the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne's book, The Scarlet Letter, faces many hardships and misfortunes. Referring to these difficulties, Hawthorne describes the scarlet letter as the forbidden sign of adultery. Upon first meeting 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 see the scarlet letter simply as a sign of adultery, it is actually a symbol of Hester's identity. At first, the scarlet letter gets a negative connotation. In the novel's prologue, while exploring the customs house attic, the curator finds the scarlet letter, "my eyes fastened on the old scarlet letter...certainly, there was a deep meaning in it...as if the letter did not were of red cloth, but of hot iron” (Hawthorne 31). Even years after Hester Prynne's death, the scarlet letter continues to have a negative impact on everyone who sees it. Originally, the scarlet letter is intended to shame Hester .While initially being publicly persecuted for her crime, a young wife in the crowd states, "let her cover the mark as she will, the pain will always be in her heart" (49). so that the letter will be a part of her for the rest of her life. During his prosecution, Hawthorne describes Hester's elegant and dignified beauty and the eyes of the crowd drawn to the scarlet letter stating, "it had the effect of an enchantment, taking it out of the... center of the paper..." ....ways. While many readers see the scarlet letter as a sign of adultery and Hester Prynne as a sinful woman. Nathaniel Hawthorne evolves the scarlet letter into many elements that transform it into a proud symbol. In doing so, Hawthorne makes a social commentary on Puritan society by implying that they see things a certain way. Furthermore, he uses the scarlet letter to show that good and evil are essentially the same thing. While the true story of Hester Prynne, Pearl, and the scarlet letter may still be unknown, Hawthorne's use of symbolism makes the reader 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.