In the Custom House preface, Hawthorne describes his penchant for mixing fantasy with fact, and this technique is evident in his treatment of the scarlet A. In physical terms, this emblem is only so much fabric and thread. But Hawthorne’s use of the symbol at various points in the story adds a dimension of fantasy to factual description. In the Custom House, Hawthorne claims to have “experienced a sensation . . . as if the letter were not of red cloth, but red-hot iron.” Similarly, here in Chapter 5, he suggests that, at least according to some townspeople, the scarlet A literally sears Hester’s chest and that, “red-hot with infernal fire,” it glows in the dark at night. These accounts create doubt in the reader’s mind regarding the true nature and function of the symbol. Hawthornes’ imbuing the scarlet A with characteristics that are both fantastical and symbolic is evident throughout the novel — particularly when Chillingworth sees a scarlet A emblazoned on Dimmesdale’s bare chest and when townspeople see a giant scarlet A in the sky — and is a technique common to the romance genre.
