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 its original signification. They said that it meant Abel, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength.""(Hawthorne 111). Hester was now becoming known as a helper of the poor, a nurse to the sick, and a source of aid in times of need. People started seeing more of this able bodied woman in Hester rather than a sinful adulterer. When Hawthorne finds the old faded letter in the customhouse he has no idea what the history of the letter really is. When he picks up the letter and unrolls it he holds it up to his chest. .
"While thus perplexed "and cogitating, among other hypotheses, whether the letter might not have been one of those decorations which the white men used to contrive in order to take the eyes of Indians "I happened to place it on my breast. It seemed to me "the reader may smile, but must not doubt my word "it seemed to me, then, that I experienced a sensation not altogether physical, yet almost so, as of burning heat, and as if the letter were not of red cloth, but red-hot iron. I shuddered, and involuntarily let it fall upon the floor.""(Hawthorne 21). .
Hawthorne finds that the scarlet letter was wrapped up around a letter, after he drops it, written by a Surveyor detailing the whole affair of the scarlet letter. A red cloth can last forever if treated and stored properly but not all of the manifestations of the scarlet letter will last forever.
The scarlet letter is brought to life by Hester's daughter, Pearl, who is also a symbol of Hester's conscience. Even though at some times Pearl can be a hindrance to her mother she is also a blessing. She is a reason for Hester to live revitalizing her sprits whenever she has the urge to give up. Pearl is always drawing or crafting the letter "A- in the sand, with seaweed, flowers and brambles.