Hester Prynne, the protagonist in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, was forced to wear a symbol that would humiliate her within Puritan society for the rest of her days. However, this scarlet letter transforms throughout the book from a mere symbol of adultery and something looked down upon to a symbol of freedom and independence. Hester sets an example for the rest of Puritan society and shows that its rigid laws cannot contain nature. As Hester's attitude changes and as the society views her differently, the meaning of the scarlet letter shifts to a good implication; a symbol of respect.

The Scarlet Letter begins with a scene outside of the jailhouse, where Hester Prynne is ridiculed in front of the townspeople and the scarlet letter is shown to be the mark of her punishment. "A crowd of eager and curious...stare into her face, and at the winking...