Suffering is the scourge of humanity, because it destroys physical and emotional harmony. Contrary to the assertion that suffering is meaningless, it is capable of strengthening human resolve. The characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter must deal with emotional pain that threatens to destroy them wholeheartedly. But Hawthorne conveys the idea that suffering is the key to becoming stronger, and he develops his characters through the agony they experience. Hawthorne uses Hester Prynne's Scarlet Letter to convey the symbolism of stigma and oppression, but also to act as a catalyst that ultimately causes her to triumph over its negative effects on her soul. Originally, the Scarlet Letter has “an effectiveness so powerful and disastrous” that “no human sympathy” (91) can reach Hester. Hawthorne capitalizes on the Puritans' fear of sin, and thus the scarlet letter acts as a tangible warning that scares them away. Hester must bear the terrible burden of being ostracized by her community due to her crimes against the Almighty, as well as Puritan morals. But as "the trend of her fame and fortune [...] liberated her," Hester's Scarlet Letter becomes a "passport to regions where other women dare not tread" (190). By committing adultery, Hester has abandoned her puritanical ethics, but at the same time acquires a new sense of freedom which will ultimately triumph over the stigma of the insidious “A”. Hawthorne transforms the scarlet letter from a curse into a blessing, just as Hester transforms it from a stain of shame into a badge of honor. Hester transcends her initial suffering and channels her energy into helping others, impressing the Puritans with her compassion. Townspeople comment that the scarlet letter A actually means...... middle of paper ...... to solve any problem with modern technology. People need to understand that suffering is natural and that no one is safe from its terrible effects on the human heart. But if humanity were to adhere to the examples of Hester and Dimmesdale, they could overcome their initial fear of pain and rise above it. Depending on his choice between the joy of living as seen in Pearl or the sadistic greed of Chillingworth, Man can become prosperous or ruin himself. If humanity were to see the message of hope in The Scarlet Letter, it could see that suffering is a virtue in disguise, which allows Man to see his faults and weaknesses exposed before him, and perhaps to remove them. to correct. The novel explains that suffering is intended to test human determination, in order to make it grow. For it is a terrible thing to suffer; yet it's a beautiful thing to suffer and be strong.