We discussed the writer's intent in Jonathan Edwards famed speech "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and its applicability to the novel,"The Scarlet Letter." Nina discussed how Hawthorne and Hester both use art as form of revolt and expiation . We further studied how Hester seeks to redefine "sin" and to redefine the role of women in society.In this regard, we examined the passages where gender role reversal is prominent as the weak tottering Dimmesdale besieged by guilt implores Hester for strength , and declares her the stronger of the two while Hester exhorts him to "act ,preach, ...do anything " but lie down and die. Last, we noted the motif of subjective symbolism within the Romantic genre as Pearl repeatedly asks her mother the meaning of the scarlet letter to which she receives a variety of responses.