"On a field, sable, the letter 'A' gules."
Explain how this epitaph on Hester's tombstone reveals the contrasts in the text and, simultaneously, summarizes the whole novel.
As a final note marking Hester's grave, this line does indeed reveal the contrasts in the text and summarize the entire novel. In order to understand how, it is important to understand the meaning of the words in the epitaph.
Field, here, means background. Sable is black and gules is scarlet. Essentially, this epitaph reads: "On a black background, a red letter A."
At face value, Hester is laid to rest still bearing the mark of her sin that she once bore in life. However, on a symbolic level, this epitaph reveals so much more. The black background in the minds of the Puritans was Hester's black heart, or evidence of sin. The red burned upon it, almost glowing, as if ADULTERY was the marring device in her life and the lives of others.
In this town and society, however, the black background could very well symbolize the hypocrisy and judgement of everyone else. The red letter A, burning in the foreground, could symbolize Hester's ability to rise above the label she was given, and instead of becoming the symbol of shame and dishonor that she wore, it would symbolize everything she was able to overcome.
There is a contrast of colors. But there is also a contrast of a societal expectation and the simultaneous hiding of every other sin, because Hester Prynne certainly was not the only sinner in her town during her lifetime. The entire novel is Hawthorne's message about such hypocrisy, and in the same way that Hester's epitaph is permanent, so too is Hawthorne's message.
I have to say that the answer from clairewait is probably one of the most lucid discussions of this difficult symbol that I've ever read.
The only thing I would add is that I think the ultimate "point" of the symbol is the contrast itself between the colors. The contrast between the fiery red of the A and the blackness surrounding it symbolizes the irreconcilable conflict between human nature and social convention.
The scarlet letter itself ultimately symbolizes human nature. The blackness represents the Puritans' and any society's attempts to control it. Hawthorne admits that human nature is wayward and passionate, but the more society tries to control that wayward nature, the more rebellious and dangerous human nature becomes.
Hawthorne's ultimate message is one of tolerance. Social codes and conventions--as symbolized by the blackness--need to be more tolerant of human nature. Individual passion--as symbolized by the scarlet letter--needs to be more tolerant of social stability.
Unfortunately, the symbol on the grave suggests that this conflict between society and human nature might be irreconcilable in the short term. The darker or more repressive the blackness of social convention becomes, the brighter, hotter, and more rebellious the red flame of individual willfulness becomes.