Was the punishment that Hester Prynne recieved in The Scarlet Letter a fair punishment?

Hester Pyrnne committed adultery with reverend Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter; this fact is not disputed. However, such an act did not warrant a lifetime of disgrace. Hester should have been punished for her sin, but wearing the Scarlet "A" for the rest of her life was too harsh of a punishment. The lifetime sentence to wear the "A" did not leave any possibility for repentance, forgiveness, or recognition for a lifestyle change. Hester deserved …

…Prynne did committed adultery with Reverend Dimmesdale, she did not deserve to wear the scarlet letter for the rest of her life. Hester should have been punished, just not so harshly. She committed a crime against a husband that she never loved, and who was believed to be dead. In addition, she demonstrated a change in lifestyle that should have been recognized. In conclusion, Hester Pyrnne's punishment of wearing the scarlet letter was too harsh.