The sound of the well
When Hester and Katherine first move into the old cottage the sight and the sound of the well appears soothing to them. They didn't think much of the mechanical rhythmic rattling of the iron cover during the cold windy nights; it reminded them of a steady clock ticking. This sound takes on a completely opposite meaning after they use the well to hide their crime. This sound evokes fear and uneasiness and instead of helping them sleep it keeps them up at night.
Vast clear blue sky
Hester wishes herself to be free of the fear of loneliness and prejudices. She imagines herself being completely unknown under a clear blue sky and walking and being completely safe. She imagines herself walking instead of being in her stuffy car, when she and Katherine leave the Borden party and thinks about how it would feel like to be open and safe like that.
Rain
On the night Katherine and Hester both go completely crazy over the man in the well, Katherine wanting to get him out and Hester being baffled by Katherine's insanity, there is a heavy rain outside. At some point Hester decides to go out and check out the well. She imagines hearing a voice coming from there over the rain and wind. It is left unclear whether the man was alive or if it was the women's imagination, nevertheless their secret was gone and sealed with that night's rain.
