The Scarlet Letter

“it assumed new terrors in their imagination, and seemed to derive its scarlet hue from the flames of the infernal pit.”

“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.”

At first, the scarlet letter is symbolized as flames from hell. However, later it is described as a sign of strength.