When someone makes a mistake, they usually try to hide the truth to avoid the consequences. The Puritans had a very strict society where all sins were punished harshly. In The Scarlet letter, by Nathanial Hawthorn, Hester Prynne and the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale commit adultery, but the audience only knows Hester's sin; Dimmesdale's remains are hidden. However, by hiding his sin, Dimmesdale suffers much more than Hester. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorn shows that the repercussions of a “secret sin” are much worse than those of a revealed sin. Hester's punishment comes from society, so it is not as painful as it could be. Part of Hester's punishment is to remain on the scaffold – in shame – for three hours. The gallows is a place where "iniquity is dragged into the light of day" (57) and the truth is revealed, so everyone in the Puritan town knows that Hester is guilty of sin. Even though his punishment is denigrating, it is not as severe as they usually are, because he does not have to suffer “that squeeze around the neck” (58). The other part of her punishment is to wear, for the rest of her life, a scarlet “A” on her dress. The A, for adulterer, is meant to be a stigma that everyone can see and mock. However, Hester beautifully embroiders the mark with gold thread and wears it proudly. The mark remains with her after she leaves the gallows and finds a home on the outskirts of town. She is initially despised and shunned, but she is necessary: ​​she sews for the governor and soldiers for public ceremonies. Due to the passage of time, her usefulness, and her acceptable behavior (she never argues with the public or complains), Hester is forgiven and her sin is forgotten. Seven years after receiving the “A,” the people change the meaning of the letter from “adulteress” to “clever,” and instead of referring to her as a sinner, the citizens refer to her as one who is “so helper of the sick", so convenient for the afflicted" (169). Society believes that Hester has already served enough punishment and eventually becomes a respected woman in the town. Because the truth about her sin is known, Hester is able to overcome society's punishment; he eventually regains the acceptance, and even admiration, of the Puritan citizens.