Although Hester is clearly not a Puritan, she does show respect for the Puritan code. ... He never takes a firm stance in the ever-changing meanings of the scarlet letter, yet it is related to his moral vision with the idea of "atonement." Hester and her scarlet letter never achieve simplicity. ... Another vision of Hester's letter is that of its color, scarlet. ... Hawthorne's tragic moral vision is illuminated in his beloved character and the letter she bore. ...

• Word Count: 1352
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School