Question

"The Scarlet Letter," what does Hester Prynne mean when she states, "It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off," with respect to the scarlet letter on her breast?

a) Hester means that she does not want the letter removed from her breast because she is proud to wear it.
b) Hester means that she has already been marked with shame for life whether she wears the letter or not.
c) Hester means that she would rather wear the letter on her breast than obey the laws of her community.
d) Hester means that she doesn’t care one way or another whether she has to wear the letter.

Answer 1

Hester's statement that the scarlet letter is too deeply branded signifies that the shame it represents is a permanent part of her identity, regardless of whether the letter itself is worn or not, implying option b) is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter states, "It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off," she is referring to the symbolic meaning the scarlet letter has taken on. Hester implies that the letter has become an indelible part of her identity, and represents a mark of shame that persists beyond the physical object itself.

Therefore, even if the letter were physically removed, the stigma and its effects on her reputation in the community would remain. This statement reflects the theme of identity and the lasting impact of social judgment and punishment in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel. The correct option for the student's question is: b) Hester means that she has already been marked with shame for life whether she wears the letter or not.