Within The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne incorporates symbolism to expose a deeper meaning in the story. The first and most obvious symbol that Hawthorne displays is the embroidery of the letter "A" given to Hester to wear as a reminder to the town of her adultery. Another symbol is revealed in Chapter XII, when a meteor in the form of a letter "A" lights up the night sky. Also, Hawthorne reveals symbolism in the scaffold, where many of the important plot points take place.