Theme Enhancement through the Use of Motif in The Scarlet Letter

In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne used many profound and important motifs. Some examples of this device that is portrayed in the novel are the letter 'A', which is the best example because it changes its meaning throughout the story. In the beginning, it is viewed as a symbol of sin, and throughout the novel changes its meaning. The letter is a label of punishment and sin in the commencement of the novel. It is …

…of guilt. The 'A' took on many different meanings. To Hester it means humiliation and symbolizes her sin of adultery, to Pearl, it is peculiarity, and to Dimmesdale it is a reminder of his own contrition. Other than adultery, the 'A' can also stand for 'Angel' and 'Able'. Angel, for it appears in the sky after Governor Winthrop's death. Able, for Hester has won the respect of the Puritans even if she has sinned terribly.