Scarlet Letter D.J. # 14 - Chapter 7: Part 2.

"And she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerating and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it." (pg. 94  4th paragraph) I believe that the armor is supposed to symbolize the town as a whole. when Hester looks into the suit she sees that the "A" is huge and takes up almost all of the chest plate. The town sees her sin as the thing that defines her and when they look at her that is all that they see. Hester feels that it is a big part of her life but it is not what defines her. i beleive that she feels that what came from the sin is what defines her, which is pearl. this is why she fights so herd to keep her later in the book.