The Scarlet Letter

Quotes : Explain the significance of the following quote. Where appropriate identify the speaker or who is spoken to.

“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 it’s original signification. They said that it meant ‘Able’; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a women’s strength.”

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This quote informs the reader that over time Hester is no longer seen as nothing more than the shameful town adulteress. As time goes by, the community once again sees her for the woman she is rather than the mistakes she made. The interpretation of the letter "A" changes over the course of the novel several times. By the end, it denotes an angel.

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