Protagonist Hester Prynne, had committed a sin, adultery. For her crime, she was to be stoned to death but Reverend Dimmesdale intervened and she had to wear a letter “A” on her outfit top for the rest of her life. With wearing the letter “A” she has taken all shame and sneers of the others in the village. The “A” was used as a physical reminder of what she had done, besides her daughter Pearl.
Hester Prynne had another physical reminder of her crime, her daughter, Pearl.