Whether it be through literature, movies, or the media the letter "A" seems to control much of our daily world in terms of its symbolic meaning. However, control can be dangerous (and is, in this context).

As the letter "A" continues to pose its dominance in daily life, its complexity warps our minds to believe that we are subordinate to our true self worth. There is no one, standard definition to the letter "A," and its multi-definition take into our world truly confuses us, ironically, to death. This is due in part to the fact that this letter, has extremely contradictory definitions. Yes, even a letter, can be hypocritical.

Among the variety of novels read during standard high school English classes, no other compared to Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," a novel that explored the depths of sin and its impact on how society views women. It's no surprise that the general view from this novel illuminates women as inferior to men, and objectified in certain situations. Main character Hester Prynne's scheming affair created an image of sin in the name of women. As a result, sin (through lust) was symbolized by the letter "A" as a universal definition that would further extend into media.

Through cinema, we watched movies such as "Easy A" bring this same definition of sin in the perspective of women. Though this was a more modern intake, "Easy A" brought emphasis on the idea that even in the 21st century, we let symbols represent women in a negative connotation. More so, we let women represent OTHER women with this letter, and therefore further dividing us as a nation.

On the other hand, we let the letter "A" serve as a different definition. In schools across the nation, the letter "A" is the highest grade an individual can acquire on a test or in a class. We praise those who acquire the letter "A" and degrade anyone who acquires anything lower. In terms of condiments, we indulge ourselves with "A1" steak sauce, an incredibly popular brand in America that consumes the majority of steakhouses and resturants. On the streets or in person, through slang we refer to each other as "A1" as another definition for "You're the best!" and use this slogan as a common phrase throughout speaking. Many celebrities we worship such as Adele, Amy Poehler, and Anne Hathaway (all of those-being women!!) all have names starting with the letter A-yet exude grace through their life.

So why do we focus on so much negativity when we should focus on the positives?

We do it, simply because it is the more easier thing to do. Because "The Scarlet Letter" is rooted in so much history through American literature, we worship its meaning over more standard, modern, and real definitions of the letter A.

The time to end this thinking is now.

By thinking solely on the positive outlook of the letter "A," we engage ourselves into a happier life-defined by positivity and a lack of negative thinking. Though this may not remain true for all women, most engage in a world full of grace and class. Let this represent women more than a world of sin, and let us appreciate not depreciate the value of women in life. By appreciating the value and positive greatness of the letter "A," we as a society delve into a world that would be, well, A-ok.