Asked what the A truly means does Hester say?

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne, the protagonist, is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her chest as a public symbol of her adultery. When asked what the "A" truly means, she responds in different ways throughout the novel, depending on her emotional state and the context of the question. Here are some of her responses:

* Initially, she simply accepts the letter as a symbol of her sin: "The scarlet letter had not done its office. It had not quenched her inward longings. If it had, she might have been happy, for the burden of her sin was grievous to be borne." (Chapter 13)

* Later, she interprets the "A" as representing "Able": She uses this interpretation to assert her strength and independence in the face of societal judgment. "Able? So it may be... But I will not dwell on it, nor think of it. I have learned to hate it, and I will not let it weigh me down." (Chapter 16)

* As the story progresses, she embraces the "A" as a symbol of her resilience and defiance: She sees it as a badge of her experience, a mark of the hardship she has endured, and a source of her strength. "She had borne that mark upon her bosom, more as a necessity than as a choice. It had become her life, and the life of her child; and she would not have severed the one from the other." (Chapter 17)

Ultimately, the meaning of the "A" is complex and evolves with Hester's own journey. It initially represents shame and punishment, but it eventually becomes a symbol of her inner strength, her defiance, and her enduring love for her child.