A Look Into Foreshadowing

"Thus she will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter be engraved upon her tombstone. It irks me, nevertheless, that the partner of her iniquity should not, at least, stand on the scaffold by her side. But he will be known!--he will be known!--he will be known!" (59)

This line, uttered by a stranger, is an excellent example of Hawthorne's foreshadowing. Reading those few sentences tells me that we will find out who the partner is, and that Hester will suffer for a long, long time. It is inevitable that the partner will stand on the scaffold with her later.