i need the literal use/meaning of the symbol and how its meaning relates to the novel as a whole
The child was not illegitimate, the man did not want to claim her as his second wife. They slept together, therefore they married in the flesh. If the society in the book were truly Bible-based, the father would have been responsible for caring for that mother and child whether he wanted to or not. The men and women of Bible times got married by going into a tent and doing the deed. No contracts, no wedding dresses, no white cakes, etc. Hester Prynne bore her punishment with more class than any member of that town ever possessed, but no, she did not deserve it as she did not commit any sin.
Go do your own homework. And seriously, use some formatting next question.
