In The Scarlet Letter, symbols appear everywhere. Hawthorne uses several different concrete objects to represent something of deeper meaning. Among these symbols is the scarlet letter "A" itself. It is made of red cloth and beautifully embroidered. It is a literal symbol of the sin of adultery. The letter "A" appears in several places and several forms. It is the letter that appears on Hester's heart that she is condemned to wear for the remainder of her life. At Governor Bellingham's mansion it is magnified in the breastplate. It seems as though she is hidden behind it. On the night that Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl, a huge letter A appears in the sky. Later, while in the forest, Pearl arranges a letter a on her heart that is made of eel grass. One of the most dramatic of the A's that appear in the book is the A that appears on Dimmesdale's chest. Not only does the "A" symbolize adultery, but it also has several other meanings to the different characters as well. To the community, it is simply a mark of punishment. To Hester, it is a mark of embarrassment and humiliation. To Dimmesdale, the scarlet letter is a reminder of his own guilt. To Pearl, the mark is a mysterious curiosity. To Chillingworth, the "A" is his chance to get revenge on Dimmesdale. Later, the letter symbolizes "Able" when Hester wins some respect from the townspeople.

Another huge symbol in the novel is Pearl. She is a constant reminder of her mother's sin. When Hester removes her letter, Pearl screams and shrieks until she replaces it on her bosom. Hester cannot be associated without the scarlet letter and her sin.

Hawthorne also uses several minor characters in the story as symbols. For instance, the Puritans in the marketplace represent Puritanism, in general, and how strict their code is. The Puritan ideas of witchcraft, state, and church are seen in the characters of Reverend Wilson, Mistress Hibbins, and Governor Bellingham. Also, each of his major characters symbolize a view of sin its affects on a human heart.

The scaffold is another symbol in the novel. It serves as a place to acknowledge sins. For Dimmesdale, it is the only place he can go to escape Chillingworth's torture. The scaffold also symbolizes the strict Puritan code of the time.

The sun is used to symbolize guilt-free happiness. While in the forest, the sun shines down on Pearl and she seems to retain some of this sunshine, but the sun "runs away" from Hester because of the mark on her breast. The forest is another good symbol used in The Scarlet Letter. It symbolizes an area where Pearl can play openly and freely and where Hester can remove her letter. It is an area opposed to the strict Puritan community and laws. However, it is also a place where the witches come and sign their souls to the devil. Therefore, the forest can also symbolize darkness and evil.