The Scarlet letter has and has not done its office. The answer to the question is subjective to each considerations. On one hand, since Pearl was born 7 years ago, the townspeople have grown used to Hester and they are more accepting of her because "it is to credit the human nature, that except where selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates."(140) Hester does not do anything to annoy or trouble the people, therefore they are without reason to judge and/or ridicule her.
Hester has taken an active role in bettering the well-being of the people as a whole by dedicating her time and labor to the less fortunate. Because she spends so much time helping others, they choose to change the A for adulteress to A for able. "The Scarlet letter had not done its office." (145)
But you could also say that the Scarlet letter has done a number on Hester. Her character changes to what would be almost repulsive if there was anyone close to her to be repulsed. Because of the adversity Hester has faced she has indeed changed to become a tougher woman in order to survive.
Hester has turned to thought, because she is alone in the world. It is speculated that if Hester did not have Pearl to raise she would have been a threat to the established Puritan society because of challenging convictions. If not for the Scarlet Letter damaging Hester's good standing, who knows what would have happened? The Scarlet Letter is supposed to be a punishment that is a message to uphold Puritan values so it has performed its office.
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