Scarlet Letter 1: 45-56

"'let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart."' (49)

This quote is saying that it does not matter if Hester covers the A for adultery because she will always know inside her that she did, and she will always be reminded of it wherever she goes. The towns people will always be there to remind her. This shows that the people are the type of people that will never let her forget this, they will never forgive her, even though their religion is big on forgiveness and redemption, they still won't forgive her. They are being hypocrites. Do you think the people would feel the same way if they're sins were out in the open?

"he laid his right upon the shoulder of a young woman, whom he thus drew forward; until, on the threshold of the prison-door, she repelled him, by an action marked with natural dignity and force of character, and stepped into the open air, as is by her own free will." (49-50)

This quotes shows that Hester is able to accept her sin. She knows what she did, she knows it was not the right thing to do, but she is willing to openly accept it. She is willing to forgive herself, something that John Proctor could not do for a very long time, and Hester is able to do it very quickly. Even though Hester is able to forgive herself, do you think it will take the town much, much longer to forgive her if they even do ?