"It was reported, and believed by many, that an Indian had drawn his arrow against the badge, and that the missile struck it, but fell harmless to the ground" (Hawthorne, 112).

This quote by the narrator is from chapter thirteen of The Scarlet Letter titled: "Another View of Hester". It has already been seven years since Hester Prynne was given the punishment of wearing the "scarlet A" on her chest. In that seven year span the community's view of Hester Prynne has changed drastically. Hester is no longer scrutinized or stigmatized. Rather, she serves as an inspiration to the townspeople who now refer to the "scarlet A" as Able rather than Adulterer, and continuously try to incorporate her into their activities. However, Hester still feels guilty for her actions and does not believe she deserves to be forgiven yet. There is more of sympathetic tone throughout this chapter than the reader is accustomed to. This quote is especially significant because it symbolizes Hester's strength to overcome all that she has gone through. It suggests that nothing can break her after the kind of punishment she has received. The "scarlet A" has made Hester Prynne indestructible. It also represents the power that the "scarlet A" had over all of the people that came across it.