In Chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter , how does the magistracy’s act of marking Hester Prynne with a scarlet letter serve to maintain its power in the community?

The scarlet letter makes Hester’s punishment visible to everyone, turning her into a public warning. By seeing the shame imposed on her, community members are reminded that the magistracy can punish those who break its rules and may fear facing the same humiliation. The correct choice is “People in the community fear becoming similarly shamed.”

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