Final answer:
After Hester Prynne returns to New England, the scarlet letter becomes a symbol of sorrow and reverence, reflecting her strength, endurance, and compassion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne evolves in symbolisms throughout the narrative. By the end of the novel, after Hester Prynne returns to New England, the scarlet letter becomes a complex symbol. It transforms from being a mark of shame to a symbol of her own identity and experiences. Over the years, it becomes a sign of her strength, endurance, and compassion, making the correct answer: 1) A symbol of sorrow and reverence.
Hester's continual wearing of the letter and her actions in the community shape its new meaning. The letter 'A,' which initially was intended to mark Hester as an adulterer and to attract scorn, becomes a symbol that people look upon with awe for her silent sacrifices and good deeds. Thus, over time, the meaning of the scarlet letter shifts from a stigma of sin to an emblem of the complex nature of human life, where sorrow and grace coexist.