Nathaniel Hawthorne found a scarlet letter in an old custom house. This is where he came up with the idea for The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter caused much greif for each of the three Characters: Hester Prynne, Author Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth. The Scarlet Letter was an advancement in the maturity for Hester Prynne, a secret that came to tear Author Dimmesdale apart, and an exuse for revenge that would eventually turn Roger Chillingworth into the devil.
First, Hester Prynne became a much more mature woman because of the scarlet letter. When she was first cursed with the letter all the people in the town called for harsher punishment. Hester worked hard in the community making clothes for the townspeople and helping other services. After a few years everybody in the town begam saying the A stood for able. She matured by not letting the scarlet letter control her life.
Second, the secret affair between Author Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne tore the Author apart. In church he was able to give excellent sermons because of the great sin he commited, but as time passed the secret at away at his heart. He found himself having to refrain from saying vulgar things to certain people in the church. Soon after his health strarted to fail him. If he would have had the courage to admit his sins, then the result may not have been leathel.