Hester Prynne

* Novel
* 1926
* 1934
* 1979
* 1995

*The Scarlet Letter* (1995)

Demi Moore (1995)

Mother (by Pearl)

Arthur Dimmesdale (love interest, †, deceased)

### Personalities

Passionate, protective, beautiful, feminine, loving, youthful, strong, proud, stubborn, maternal, intelligent, honest, pious, virtuous, kind, defiant, impetuous, capable, faithful, solitary, humble, secretive, rebellious, independent, brave, diligent, romantic, determined, calm, loyal, repentant

### Appearance

Wears the red "A" on her breast, wears Puritan clothing, dark hair, dark eyes, fair-skinned,

### Allies

Pearl

Arthur Dimmesdale

### Likes

Sewing, gardening, caring for Pearl, making clothes of the people in her community, her relationship with Dimmesdale

### Dislikes

Being ashamed for her crime, when Chillingworth is going after her, Pearl's behaviour and obsession with the "A" letter

### Goal

To protect her daughter from being taken away by authorities (succeeded)
To try to fit into society despite being shunned (succeeded)
To keep her lover's identity a secret (failed)
 To help Dimmesdale with his condition (failed)
To start a new life in Europe with Pearl and Dimmesdale (failed)

### Fate

Travels overseas with Pearl, then returns home and wears the Letter until she dies and is interred with Dimmesdale

### Famous quotes

"God gave her into my keeping, I will not give her up!"

> "*It [the scarlet letter] had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself.*"
> ― Chapter 2 The Marketplace
>
>

Hester Prynne is the main protagonist in Nathaniel Hawthorne's *The Scarlet Letter*. She is the wife of Roger Chillingworth, the love interest of Arthur Dimmesdale, and the mother of Pearl.

After she has an adulterous affair and conceives a child out of wedlock, Hester finds herself shunned for her sinful crime but would do anything to make what's right about herself and the scarlet letter she was forced to wear.

She is often considered among American literature's most important and memorable female protagonists.

## Description

Hester Prynne is a Puritan woman with a little-known background and an affair with the minister Arthur Dimmesdale. She endured a loveless marriage to Roger Chillingworth and was first introduced when she was led out of the local prison with her infant child and standing on the scaffold. Her presence in Boston and crime make her mysterious to the townsfolk and her purpose since they mostly shame her of adultery and illegitimacy. Even her child has a reputation for having a father whose identity is unknown, and Hester refuses to say his name and would rather keep it to herself until the time comes when she believes it would be right.

She is known to have two different selves when she wears the scarlet letter. When she wears the letter, she is different from the Puritans, her hair hidden underneath her cap and seen as a shunned figure. But later in the novel, when she briefly takes the letter off and her hair down, she shows off her secret radiance and beauty that no one sees in her. Even in her second self, her daughter Pearl doesn’t recognize her. Her appearance and affair have her caught up in a demented love triangle by two men, for her husband Chillingworth would do anything to protect her and her reputation by taking his cruelty out on Dimmesdale, the other man who loves her.

Throughout the novel, Hester seems to take pride in the letter she is forced to wear. She never succumbs to her sin and would accomplish anything by using her strength to transform the way she sees the analysis of her crime and even questions the Puritan system of how they treat her. The red “A” letter may have stood for “Adultery,” but with Hester’s trials and goals, the letter subsequently changes its meaning from “Able” to “Angel.” She even sees her daughter as more of a blessing than a punishment, for she would help her mother live without giving up, and she stays loyal to God to have her by her side. By the novel's end, she has become a survivor and successfully proved everyone wrong about what her letter can do to her in a good way.

## Storyline

### Early Years/Affair Crime

Hester was born in England but lived in poverty in her youth alongside her parents. Sometime in her adult life, she married a scholar named Roger Prynne, who was much older and haggard than she was. The couple lived in Amsterdam, and after the Bay Colony was established in Boston, Massachusetts, she was sent ahead as an emigrant by her husband. She didn't know what had become of him, but she tried to make a living in her new home.

She may have also met the town minister, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and they start a relationship. She became pregnant with Dimmesdale's child, and after the authorities found out about her affair, she was imprisoned at the local jail and was even given a red "A" patch to wear on her breast as a symbol of her sin. While in prison, she gave birth to a girl named Pearl, and three months later, she was led out of her cell and towards the town scaffold with her baby for her public shaming.

Hester clutches her baby to her chest to hide her chest, which contains the “A” patch, as she smiles defiantly while looking at the crowd. Two women in the crowd comment about her symbol. The town beadle orders the townsfolk to step aside and beckons Hester to walk to the platform.

The crowd opens a path, and with the beadle leading, Hester walks ahead with the townsfolk following her. A group of schoolboys ran forward to glimpse Pearl and the scarlet letter. She restrains herself as she climbs up the steps and stands on the scaffold, where she is sentenced to stand for some time.

The crowd gazes at her and the scarlet letter while the governor, his advisers, a judge, a general, and the town’s ministers are present. Hester wishes the townsfolk would yell or laugh at her. Sometimes, she felt like crying out, jumping off the platform, or going insane. She pulls away from reality as she recalls scenes and memories from her childhood, such as seeing the house in England where she grew up, her parents’ faces, and her own younger face lighting up in a mirror. But in that mirror, Hester sees the hideous face of an aged scholar and remembers he had a deformed shoulder. Next, Hester sees a continental city where she starts a new life with the scholar part of her life. Her mind is then turned back to where she is, with her baby in her arms, surrounded by the townsfolk and the scarlet letter on her breast. She clutches the baby so tightly that she begins to cry. Hester touches the symbol and realizes that Pearl and the scarlet letter are all reality. Hester doesn't seem to hear Pearl’s crying until she sees a man in the crowd dressed in Native American clothing. They lock eyes on each other, and he gestures for her to be quiet with his finger to his lips. Hester stares at him as she becomes lost in thought, believing she is glad to encounter him in front of the townsfolk. In her thoughts, she barely hears the voice of the minister John Wilson calling to her. He tells her that he had tried to persuade Dimmesdale to confront her of her sin and that he would have the best judgment on Hester's refusal of her lover's identity. He refuses to force Hester to reveal the truth in front of the crowd, and the shame is in her confession instead of her sin. He makes Dimmesdale decide on whoever should deal with Hester.

There is a murmur at the balcony attached to the meeting house where the dignitaries stand. Governor Bellingham reminds Dimmesdale of his responsibility to Hester; therefore, he must encourage Hester to repent and confess her crime. Wilson also reminds Dimmesdale of his duty to Hester and urges him to let her confess. Leaning over the balcony and gazing toward Hester, he delivers an impassionate speech on why she must confess. His speech moves everyone, and he thinks it will make Hester reveal the truth. But Hester shakes her head, and Wilson harshly chastises her that her confession could have the scarlet letter removed from her chest. Someone from the crowd demands her to speak, and she refuses again, claiming her daughter deserves a heavenly father instead of an earthly one.

Wilson begins to deliver a fiery sermon of sin for an hour but always refers to the letter. Hester stands on the platform wearily after everything she endured that morning. After the sermon concludes, Pearl cries, and Hester is taken back to her cell, with the townsfolk thinking the scarlet letter cast a red glow inside the dark prison.

Back in her cell, Hester is extremely agitated by her public shaming and is watched closely for fear of being estranged enough to harm herself or her daughter. She still cannot be calmed when the prison authorities attempt to scold and threaten her with more punishments. By nightfall, the jailer, Master Brackett, calls for a doctor knowledgeable of Western and Native American medicine. The doctor is desperately needed for baby Pearl, who is crying uncontrollably and writhing in pain. The jailer leads a doctor who calls himself Roger Chillingworth into Hester’s cell and stays there until the magistrates and Native chiefs can agree on a price for his ransom. The jailer is amazed at how quiet the prison is, though the baby is still crying and Hester is still. Chillingworth asks the jailer to leave him alone with Hester and assures him she will be more obedient. The jailer says he will reveal his excellent medical skills to everyone if he succeeds in taming Hester since she’s acting insane.

Chillingworth is left alone with Hester as the jailer leaves. He examines Pearl and then goes through his leather case, which contains different medicines he mixes into a cup of water. He remarks how his study of alchemy and his interactions with the Native Americans, with his unique knowledge of medical herbs, have made him a better doctor than anyone else. He tells Hester to give the potion to her baby, but she stares at him and refuses to take medicine. She asks him in a whisper if he would take revenge on her child, and Chillingworth assures her the medicine is safe for her to take and admits he couldn’t do better if the child were his. Hester still feels agitated, but when she hesitates again, Chillingworth takes the baby in his arms and gives her the potion himself. Pearl immediately stops crying and writhing and is soon fast asleep. Afterwards, he examines Hester by checking her pulse and looking into her eyes, but Hester shrinks back as the familiar look in his eyes makes her flinch.

Chillingworth mixes a sedative potion and recalls how an Indian had taught him the recipe he’s making in return for learning more ancient medicines. He urges her to drink it as it may be less soothing, but it will calm her down. Hester receives the cup, and while she takes it, she looks at him seriously and looks over her sleeping daughter. She thinks about death and wishes she could die, even thinking the potion contains poison. Chillingworth urges her to take it as if she doesn’t trust him well enough to do it, and if he does plan revenge, he would’ve wanted to let her live and receive the best medicine from him while she still wears her shame on her chest. As he talks, he presses his finger on the scarlet letter, which seems to burn Hester as she flinches in pain. He smiles and tells her to carry on her punishment in the eyes of everyone, including her husband and child, and orders her to drink the potion if she should live.

Hester drinks the sedative and sits on her bed by Chillingworth’s orders. He pulls the only chair in the cell next to her, which makes Hester tremble. He tells her he doesn’t know how or why he had found her in this situation, and it was his foolishness and her weakness that she ended up here. He admits he spent so many years pursuing his knowledge, making him fall apart. He blames himself for falling in love with a woman who would look past his physical deformity. Everyone thinks he may be wise, but he admits that when he stumbles into Boston, he will look at her when she is publicly shamed.

Hester tells him she doesn't show him any love, and he doesn't pretend to feel any of her affection. Chillingworth says it is his foolishness, and he had lived a lonely life until they met. He tried to offer her the warmth she had given him. Hester mumbles that she has wronged him, and he says they wronged each other. He tricked her into marrying him with his weakness and learned not to plot revenge against her, as they are both even. He knows her lover has wronged them, and he demands his name. Hester says he will never know his name. Roger retorts that she may keep his identity secretive from the magistrates and ministers at her public shaming. He will investigate the mystery himself and thinks he and Hester have a connection that will lead to the truth about her lover.

Chillingworth is determined to read the shame in the lover's heart and decides to let him live instead of ruining his reputation or causing him harm. Hester tells him his actions may be merciful, but his words are horrifying. Roger orders her never to reveal to anyone that he is her husband, as nobody in Boston knows him. He will live close to Hester and her lover and demands she not betray him. She asks him why he can't reveal himself to everyone and denounces her publicly. He replies that he possibly wants to avoid the shame of being married to a woman who has cheated on him, and he wants to remain anonymous. He makes her swear an oath to tell everyone her husband is dead and never reveal a hint of who he is, as he will have her lover for himself. Hester promises to keep his secret and swears the oath.

Afterwards, Roger tells her he will leave her alone with her child and the scarlet letter. He asks her if she is always required to wear it when she sleeps. Hester, now afraid of the look in his eyes, asks him why he smiles like that if he's the Black Man who lives in the forest and if he made her keep a promise that will cost her soul. Roger replies it's none of that at all.

### Life as an Outcast

Hester's prison sentence ends, and she is released from jail. When she walks out of prison for the first time, she is basked in the sunlight, which appears to show off the scarlet letter on her breast. Everyone gathers to watch her leave, and her punishment happens only once in a lifetime. As she leaves prison, she is now in a new reality and can only use everyday sources to handle it. Each day will be a struggle for her, and in the eyes of the Puritans, she will always be viewed as an innocent woman corrupted by sin.

The authorities allow Hester to go anywhere she wants, such as her birthplace or in Europe, under a hidden identity. She could even live in the forest with the Indians, unaware of her sins. But Pearl's birth makes New England a permanent home for Hester, and she views her native England and other places on Earth as a foreign land. She is uneasy that her husband is now with her in Boston, and the town will always remind her of where her sin was committed.

Despite this, Hester never leaves Boston, instead moving into a cottage on the outskirts of town with Pearl. The cottage was built by an early settler but abandoned it as the soil was too sterile to plant crops, and the area was too remote. It stands at the shore overlooking the waters at the forestry hills in the west. The magistrates grant Hester a license, and she takes some money to move into the cottage, but they still keep an eye on her. Some children would spy on her sewing or gardening. They were too young to understand her sin but would run away in fear when they saw the scarlet letter.

While Hester is lonely, she works hard to feed herself and Pearl and supports herself by becoming a seamstress, though there is less demand in New England than in her homeland. She embroiders clothing, such as ruffled collars and gloves, for the magistrates, ministers, and other important, wealthy men. Hester's work is also needed during funerals, as she must measure the body and make the burial clothes. She also makes clothing for babies, such as caps and christening gowns. Her handiwork becomes fashionable, with some people either sympathizing with her or appreciating her needlework. She worked long hours and made the collar for the Governor and sashes for the military men. She doesn't make bridal gowns or veils as it's inappropriate for a sinful woman to make wedding clothes. She also makes garments for the poor and considers her needlework charity work rather than a pastime.

Despite trying to find some joy, Hester still rejects them as sins, and something may be wrong with her. The Puritans treat her like an outcast, such as the poor refusing her help or the wealthy ladies insulting her. But Hester doesn't respond to their criticism and keeps her patience, although she fears her forgiveness might be cursed. Ministers would give speeches around her that drew a crowd, and when she attended church, she became the subject of the sermons. She despises the local children, as their parents taught them horrible things about her when she walks into town with Pearl. They would follow her while making shrill cries and shouting words that didn't mean anything to them but were terrible for her. The locals would gaze at the scarlet letter that fills her with pain and wish she would hide it from them. Her imagination was somewhat affected by her pain and loneliness. Wherever she went, it appeared to offer her some sympathy for her sins, but she had no idea what the revelations were. She would ask herself if evil was near when she passed by a minister or a magistrate and would look up to see a saint before her. The letter's sympathy asserts itself when Hester sees a coldhearted, older woman, and she wonders if she has lost faith in admiring others. She also struggles with the fact that human weakness and strict laws aren't entirely corrupt.

The locals had made up a legend that the scarlet letter wasn't an embroidered scarlet cloth but red-hot-like the fires of Hell that could be seen glowing wherever Hester went anywhere at night.

Hester gave Pearl her name mainly because she was bought "at a great price" and was the only treasure of her life she bought with her virtue.Pearl can connect her mother to humanity and become a blessed Heavenly soul, making Hester more hopeful than fearful. She knows she has committed a sinful act, but the result becomes good. As she watched Pearl grow, Hester was also filled with dread of her guilt of conceiving her. However, Pearl is a lively, energetic child. Hester bought and made the most luxurious clothes for her, which made her more beautiful but was still the same when she wore plain, old dresses.

Pearl is also known to be disobedient and refuses to follow the rules. Hester would question herself about her state when she became pregnant with Pearl, and her passion and conflicted nature had been passed on to her. She also started to recognize her daughter's fiery temper and cheerful nature. She tries to be more loving but firm in Pearl's behaviour but lets her go wild when she fails to discipline her. Since Pearl was a baby, Hester noticed her child's odd reaction that won't be persuaded. Looking into Pearl's bright, black eyes, she felt she would vanish any moment and would rush to her, embracing and kissing her. She does this to ensure her daughter is real and not a delusion. She would cry over this spell from her daughter, and Pearl would affectionately cry for her mother. Whenever Pearl falls asleep, Hester finally has some quiet time until she wakes up.

Pearl learns to speak at a young age, but as an outcast, she isn’t allowed to play with the other children. Since her release from prison, Hester always takes Pearl with her when she is in public. Pearl would watch the local children play together but never tried to introduce herself to them. When she did, she would throw rocks at them and scream at them, making Hester tremble. In addition, the Puritan children understood something unnatural about the mother and child and would mock them. Pearl would then fight the children, and her outbursts made Hester relieved that she was being earnest. While Hester may be frustrated by her daughter’s tantrum, she still sees in her a reflection of her sin, and she is a passionate girl.

Since Pearl grew up without any friends, even her imaginary friends were like the Puritans. She would use her imagination to frolic around and cause mischief playfully. Whenever Hester looked at Pearl, she would ask aloud to God who is this child she gave birth to. Pearl would smile at her innocently and continue with her activities. As a baby, Pearl was fascinated by her mother’s scarlet letter, and one time, when Hester leaned over her in her cradle, Pearl smiled and touched the letter. Hester fearfully clutched the letter. She had often felt afraid of her daughter unless she was asleep and never had a peaceful moment with her. She even thought an evil spirit resided in Pearl and assumed devilish qualities.

Pearl gathers some flowers one summer afternoon and throws them at Hester’s scarlet letter. She happily dances if one hits the letter, and Hester feels like the flowers are wounding her and tries to cover the letter. While Pearl laughs, Hester asks who she is. Pearl replies that she is her “little Pearl” and mischievously dances about. Hester tells her she is not her child and demands who she is and who sent her here. Pearl replies to tell her that, and Hester says her Heavenly Father sent her. Then, Pearl cries that she has no Heavenly Father. Hester begs her not to say that and asks where she came from. Pearl demands that she tell her the answer, and Hester doesn’t answer and loses herself in thought. She remembers when the Puritans believed that Pearl was the child of a demon but wasn’t the only child in the Puritan community to have been assumed of this origin.

One day, Hester goes to Governor Bellingham’s mansion to deliver a pair of gloves she made and embroidered, and she brings Pearl with her. She also plans to see him after hearing rumours that the authorities have planned to take Pearl away from her.The townsfolk believe Hester is not a good mother to raise a demonic child and think Pearl is better off being raised by guardians who will teach her spiritual beliefs, and Governor Bellingham is part of this plan.

Pearl wears a scarlet red dress, and its colour resembles the scarlet letter. Several Puritan children spot the mother and daughter entering the town, and they mock her and want to throw mud at them. Pearl gestures threats at them before she charges at them and chases them away. Hester and Pearl arrive at the Governor's Mansion, a large wooden structure newer than the older houses. The wall was covered with stucco mixed with fragments of broken glass, and whether the sun shone on the mansion's right angle, it glittered and sparkled. The wall also had mystical figures drawn on them. Pearl skips and dances when she sees the house, asking her mother to give her sunshine to play with. Hester refuses, and they approach the front door. She knocks on the iron knocker, and the Governor's servant answers the door. He was an Englishman who became the Governor's indentured servant for the next seven years.

Hester asks if the Governor is home, and the servant replies yes while he is astonished at the scarlet letter. He says the Governor is busy with a reverend minister and a doctor and cannot see her right now. However, Hester insists she comes inside, and the servant reluctantly allows her inside since he is still amazed by the scarlet letter.

The mansion's interior is lavishly designed like the wealthy English gentlemen. A wide, high-ceilinged hallway opens into almost every room, and a large, curtained bay window lights the other end of the hall. Many of the furnishings are the Governor's family heirlooms that were shipped from England and dated back to the Elizabethan Age or earlier. On the wall were rows of portraits of the Governor's ancestors, some wearing armours and ceremonial collars. A suit of polished armour stood near the wooden oak panels, and it was a new piece of armour made the year Governor Bellingham arrived in New England. The Governor had even worn the armour when he fought in the battle against the Pequot Indians.

Pearl is fascinated by the shining armour and begs her mother to look at it. Hester sees that the scarlet letter is largely engrossed in the breastplate's reflection, but she is completely hidden by the letter. She also sees Pearl's reflection, smiling at her with an "elfish intelligence" that makes Hester think that the reflection isn't her daughter but more like an imp trying to form itself into Pearl's shape. Hester pulls Pearl away and insists they go into the garden to view the flowers. Pearl runs to the bay window and looks out into the Governor's garden, which includes some cabbages, pumpkins, rose bushes and apple trees that were rumoured to have been planted by the first Massachusetts settler, Reverend Blackstone.

When Pearl sees a rose, she begs for one, and Hester demands her to be quiet as she hears voices from the garden. She sees the Governor and several gentlemen walking down the path toward the house, and Pearl stops crying when the men arrive.

Governor Bellingham, dressed in his robe, ruffled collar and hat, approaches Hester and Pearl. The Reverend John Wilson, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth are with him.The men spot Pearl in front of the great hall window while Hester is partially hidden behind the curtain. The Governor is surprised to see Pearl and wonders how she got into his house. Mr. Wilson questions Pearl if she is a Christian child and what is wrong with her mother. Pearl says her name, and Mr. Wilson thinks she should have been called something else before Mr. Wilson and the Governor notice Hester's presence in the hallway.

Governor Bellingham informs Hester that they have been debating if she is a good mother and has planned to remove Pearl from her care. Hester points to the scarlet letter on her chest and declares she will teach her child everything she learned from the letter. The Governor says that because of her sin, Pearl must be placed into the care of someone else. While turning pale, Hester calmly states that the letter has taught her everything and is determined to teach the same thing to Pearl. The Governor says they will think about it and orders Mr. Wilson to examine Pearl to see if she has any Christian upbringing. Mr. Wilson sits in an armchair and tries to make Pearl sit on his lap, but she escapes through an open window. Mr. Wilson wants Pearl to pay attention to him and asks her what has made her. During the first three years of Pearl's life, Hester taught her about religion, and Pearl learned a lot from her mother's religious teachings.

Pearl refuses to answer Mr. Wilson's questions until she declares that her mother picked her from the wild rose bush that grew outside the prison door. Chillingworth whispers something to Mr. Wilson, and Hester glances at Dimmesdale. She notices how pale and weak he has become since the last time she saw him before turning her attention to Mr. Wilson and Pearl. The Governor says Pearl is a sinful child, and they know what they must do now. Hester grabs Pearl and fiercely protests that God has gifted Pearl to her as a sin but a gift. She says that Pearl keeps her alive and will die if she is taken away from her, even stating that her daughter is the scarlet letter. The Governor assures her that Pearl is better off with better parents, and Hester refuses to give her up.

Hester looks at Dimmesdale and begs him for help. He explains that Hester is right when she mentions that God has given her Pearl as a sin and gift. Pearl may have resulted from Hester's sin and the father's guilt, but she is also meant to be a blessing. In addition, she has given her mother salvation; Hester will raise her to be virtuous, remind her of her sin, and be joined in Heaven. Dimmesdale concludes by urging the Governor to let Hester keep Pearl. His speech moves Chillingworth, and Governor Bellingham gives in and decides to let Hester keep Pearl as long as she doesn't commit any more scandals. He also wants to ensure that Pearl receives a religious education and that she will attend school and church when she is older.

Dimmesdale wanders away from the group and hides in a corner. Pearl takes his hand and lovingly caresses it. Hester is surprised that Pearl hasn't acted so tender before. After hesitating, Dimmesdale kisses Pearl on her forehead, but she runs down the hallway laughing. He thinks Pearl is bewitched, and Chillngworth suggests conducting scientific research on her to determine who her father is. Wilson refuses and prefers to leave the mystery alone until God reveals it.

Hester and Pearl leave the Governor's mansion, but when they walk down the steps, the Governor's sister, Mistress Hibbins, throws open her window and invites them to a gathering in the forest to honour the Black Man. Hester refuses as she needs to look after Pearl at home but says she would participate if the authorities took Pearl away from her. Mistress Hibbins frowns and hopes she will join her one day before shutting the window.

### Hester and Dimmesdale

While Dimmesdale lives with Chillingworth to be treated for an unexpected illness, the men spot Hester and Pearl walking on a path next to the graveyard.Pearl dances around atop a flat tombstone, and Hester tells her to be respectful. Pearl picks a handful of burrs from a bush and places them on Hester's scarlet letter. Hester doesn't pluck the burrs off. When she hears Chillingworth and Dimmesdale talking, Pearl throws a burr at the window where Dimmesdale is. Hester also spots the men, and after staring at each other in silence, Pearl pulls her away and says they must leave before the Black Man catches them. They walk away with Pearl frolicking on the graves.

Seven years have passed since Hester's public shaming. One night in May, Hester and Pearl visit Governor Winthrop on his deathbed so she can measure his body and prepare him a burial robe. On their way home, they spot Dimmesdale screaming and wailing on the same scaffold she stood on seven years ago.He sees them and invites them to join him on the scaffold. Hester and Pearl climb up the scaffold steps and stand together hand-in-hand. Pearl asks Dimmesdale if he will stand here with her and Hester tomorrow at noon. Dimmesdale replies no but promises they will stand here together on judgment day.

At that moment, a light shines in the night sky. They look up and see a meteor shooting across the sky and tracing a letter "A" shape in red. Chillingworth appears next to the platform, and Dimmesdale begs Hester who he is as he is afraid of him. But Hester remembers her vow to keep her relations with Chillingworth a secret, so she remains silent. Pearl says she knows Chillingworth and mumbles about it in Dimmesdale's ear. She then mocks him for not keeping his promise to stand on the scaffold with her and Hester on judgment day. Chillingworth tells Dimmesdale he has been sleepwalking and orders him to come home. Dimmesdale demands to Chillingworth how he found him at the scaffold. Chillingworth says he was with Governor Winthrop until he died, and when he walked home, he spotted him at the scaffold when the meteor lit in the sky. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth then leave.

Hester is shocked to see how Dimmesdale has changed since they last met.She knows his conscience is working on him, making him feel sick and morally weak. She realizes that on the night they stood on the scaffold, he pleaded to her to protect him from Chillingworth. She decides she must help Dimmesdale, even though he has done nothing for her during the past seven years.

Pearl is now seven years old, and the townsfolk have started to respect Hester for handling her shame with courage. She never begged anyone for help or protested against public opinion. She works hard to support herself and Pearl and helps the poor by bringing them food and making their clothes. Whenever there was a disease outbreak, she would nurse the sick. She had become so helpful and kind to the townsfolk that some people suggested the "A" on her chest meant "able." However, she still felt alone and isolated. She would quickly leave before she was given gratitude from those she served, and when anyone approached, she just pointed to her scarlet letter and walked on. The town's highest-ranking gentlemen and nearly everyone had quietly forgiven her, and they viewed the scarlet letter as a symbol of her kindness and diligence.

Hester has become plain and depressed, with her shiny hair hidden under her cap. She shuns herself from society and even debates whether life is worth it, even considering killing Pearl and then taking her own life. However, since she last saw Dimmesdale acting insane and remorseful, she suspects that Chillingworth is responsible for Dimmesdale's suffering. She decides to find Chillingworth and confront him about his mistreatment of Dimmesdale. One afternoon, while walking in an isolated area of the peninsula, she finds Chillingworth foraging for medicinal herbs.

Hester tells Pearl to play by the shore so she can talk to Chillingworth privately.While Pearl is playing, Hester approaches Chillingworth, who tells her that a magistrate and the city council had recently debated that they will consider allowing Hester to remove the scarlet letter. Hester says the magistrates have no right to remove it, and even if she doesn't want it anymore, it will simply fall off her chest or be transformed into another meaning. Chillingworth then allows her to wear the scarlet letter for as long as she wants, and the letter suits her. During their conversation, Hester observes Chillingworth and is shocked to see he has changed from a scholarly, intellectual gentleman to a haggard, fearsome man. Hester thinks she is to blame for her sin ruining Chillingworth.

Hester then tells him about Dimmesdale the other night. She remembers that seven years ago, she had to swear an oath to keep their marriage a secret. She knows Dimmesdale is in Chillingworth's care and wishes she didn't have to stay quiet. She scolds Chillingworth for stalking Dimmesdale and making his life miserable. She even thinks it would have been best if Dimmesdale was imprisoned or executed. Chillingworth argues that if he hadn't looked after Dimmesdale, he would have been more tormented by her sins. He agrees with her that it would be better if Dimmesdale were dead but admits he has been torturing Dimmesdale, and his suffering is justified. He asks her if she remembers what he looked like 9 years ago, and he blames Dimmesdale for changing him into a vindictive man. Hester says it was her fault and demands that he hadn't taken his revenge on her. He points to the scarlet letter and says the letter has avenged her.

Hester decides she must reveal their secret to Dimmesdale, and she will claim responsibility for his suffering. Chillingworth pities her for falling in love with an evil man. Hester begs Chillingworth to repent for his sins and change his actions. He refuses to repent, and this is his fate. He then orders her to leave and forages for more plants.

While Chillingworth leaves her, Hester watches him gather herbs into his basket and wonders what he plans to do with the herbs.Even if it’s considered a sin, she now resents Chillingworth and remembers years ago when they were happily married while he was a scholar. She wonders why she married him and why he convinced her she’d be happy with him. She hates him more for betraying her and making her life worse.

After Chillingworth is gone, Hester calls for Pearl. While Hester was talking with Chillingworth, Pearl gathered some seaweed, dressed herself as a mermaid, and used eelgrass to make an “A” shape on her chest. Hearing her mother’s calls, Pearl rushes toward her, laughing, dancing and pointing to Hester’s scarlet letter. Hester tells Pearl her makeshift “A” shake means nothing and asks about the meaning of the scarlet letter she is forced to wear. Pearl replies that she taught her the letter “A” in the alphabet book. Hester can’t figure out why Pearl is obsessed with the letter, and she asks her daughter why she’s wearing it. Pearl says it’s the same reason Dimmesdale holds his hand over his heart, but Chillingworth knows more. She asks her mother why she wears the letter and why Dimmesdale holds his chest. Pearl holds her hand, and Hester realizes that Pearl has become more sympathetic to her, but Hester knows she cannot tell her the answer. Instead, she tells her she wears it for the sake of the letter’s golden thread. Pearl continued to ask that question on their way home and when Hester put her to bed. In the morning, when Pearl asks the question again, Hester threatens to lock her in a dark closet.

Hester plans to see Dimmesdale and reveal the truth about Chillingworth.For several days, she tries to meet him during her long walks by the seashore or in the woods. She even considered visiting him in his study, but Chillingworth’s presence would make him suspicious. When she learns that he’ll be visiting a sick man and then a Native tribe, he will return in a certain hour the next afternoon, and Hester plans this time to meet him. She takes Pearl with her, and they walk into a dense forest on a cold, cloudy day. Despite the weather, rays of sunlight shine in the forest a few times.

Pearl notices the rays of sunlight are avoiding Hester because of the letter, and Hester encourages her to play in the sunshine. She smiles as she watches her daughter in the sunlight, even stretching out her hand to feel it. After the sunshine disappears, Hester invites Pearl to sit down and rest, but Pearl asks her to tell her a story about the Black Man, who haunts the forest and offers a book and pen to anyone who meets him. He even allegedly wrote their names in blood and made markings on their chests. Hester asks who has told her this story, and Pearl says she overheard it from an old woman talking it, who claims that thousands of people have met the Black Man and their names were written in his book, including Mistress Hibbins and Hester’s scarlet letter. Hester remarks that she once met the Black Man; the scarlet letter is his mark.

Hester and Pearl walk further into the forest and sit on a pile of moss beside a brook surrounded by sunlight. Pearl wonders why the brook looks sad, and Hester hears someone approaching. She urges Pearl to run and play but wants her to return when she calls her. Pearl thinks it’s the Black Man and wants to see him, but notices it’s Dimmesdale, holding his hand over his heart. Hester again urges her to play near the brook, and Pearl cheerfully picks some flowers. Hester approaches the forest path while keeping herself hidden in the trees. She sees Dimmesdale walking alone on the path with a tree branch as a cane. He looks weaker, worn out, and nervous, and Hester can see he is holding his hand over his heart.

As Dimmesdale slowly walks past her, Hester calls out to him, which startles him.They ask each other if they’re still alive, and he touches Hester’s hand to be reassured. They remain silent until they sit on the heap of moss Hester had previously sat with Pearl and finally make some small talk. Dimmesdale then asks her if she has found peace, and Hester asks the same thing when she gazes at the scarlet letter. Dimmesdale laments that he is miserable, and she asks him if the townsfolk who love and respect him have given him any comfort. But Dimmesdale again says that he is filled with misery. He is afraid that anything good he does is a delusion from so much evil in his heart, which would make Satan laugh. Hester notices that he has become repented, and Dimmesdale laments that he has kept his sin a secret for seven years and that it would have been best for him if he had a friend or enemy who would recognize what he has become.

Hester assures him she is his friend, but he has a longtime enemy living with him. Dimmesdale clutches his chest and gasps for breath when he hears this, and she senses that she is responsible for Dimmesdale lying to Chillingworth about his sin. Since their meeting at the scaffold, she has softened towards Dimmesdale from his weak state and is now acutely aware that Chillingworth is going to corrupt him. She then confesses to Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband and begs for his forgiveness. Dimmesdale sinks to the ground, distraught, and vows Hester that he will never forgive her for being married to his enemy. Hester tenderly embraces him by pressing his head against the scarlet letter, repeatedly urging him to forgive her. He eventually calms down and forgives her, even pointing out that Chillingworth is the worst sinner than them because he has violated the sanctity of the human heart in cold blood, but at least Dimmesdale and Hester never did that.

The couple sits on the moss-covered log for a moment, and Dimmesdale asks if Chillingworth will still keep his secret about them and get revenge on them. Hester doubts it but senses he’ll plan his revenge in another way. Dimmesdale cannot stand to be with Chillingworth any longer and begs her for a solution. Hester tells him he must not live with Chillingworth again, but Dimmesdale laments that it’s a fate worse than death. She first suggests that he should leave the settlement and live in the wilderness, but it isn’t a good idea for him. Next, she suggests he leave Boston and move to London or another European country, where he’ll be safe from Chillingworth. Dimmesdale again laments that he doesn’t have the strength to leave the continent and is already troubled by his misery. Hester assures him he will leave his misery behind and start a new life in Europe. Dimmesdale says he’s too weak to travel alone, but Hester tells him he won’t go alone.

Dimmesdale is shocked by Hester’s boldness but is also hopeful that he will finally escape Chillingworth.Since Hester has been alone for seven years, it has given her strength, while Dimmesdale has become weaker, but he is determined to escape with her. He thanks Hester for helping him get his life back on track but wonders why they didn’t start their new lives sooner. Hester says they should let go of the past by unpinning the scarlet letter from her chest and throwing it at the nearest bank of the river. She smiles, removes her cap, and lets down her long, brown hair. Her beauty and youth suddenly return as the sunlight shines on the couple.

Hester tells Dimmesdale that he must meet Pearl, and he will learn to love her. Dimmesdale asks uneasily if Pearl will be happy to meet him, as the local children don’t trust him. Hester assures him that Pearl will love him, and she calls for Pearl, who is on the opposite side of the forest, picking flowers and talking to animals. When she hears her mother’s voice, she slowly approaches them.

Hester points out that Pearl is beautiful when adorned with flowers and tells Dimmesdale that she shouldn’t be afraid of her when he says that the girl’s presence makes him uneasy.She also assures him that Pearl may be feisty and shy, but she will learn to love him. Pearl slowly approaches them, wearing flowers and wreaths. Hester encourages her daughter to jump over the brook and come to her, but Pearl stands still and stares at them suspiciously. Dimmesdale places his hand over his heart, and Pearl points to Hester’s chest where the scarlet letter used to be. Again, Hester demands Pearl to come over, but Pearl throws a temper tantrum. Hester then whispers to Dimmesdale that Pearl’s outburst is because she doesn’t like her mother’s new change and not wearing what she has always been used to seeing. He urges her to calm Pearl down, so Hester points to the scarlet letter sitting by Pearl on the brook and asks her to bring it to her. Hester admits to Dimmesdale that she has to wear the scarlet letter a little longer and wishes it would be washed away to sea. She crosses to the other side of the brook, fastens the scarlet letter onto her chest and places her long hair back into her cap.

Hester then asks Pearl if she will come with her across the brook, and Pearl happily obeys by kissing her face and the scarlet letter. Hester scolds her for kissing the scarlet letter and asks her to come and meet Dimmesdale. Pearl asks if he loves them and will return to town with them, and Hester replies that he won’t return with them today, but he will soon. Pearl next asks why he is covering his heart with his hand, and Hester demands that she meet him and give him her blessing. Pearl grimaces when she sees Dimmesdale and is forcefully brought to him. When Dimmesdale kisses her, she rushes to the brook and washes the kiss away.

Shortly after Hester’s meeting with Dimmesdale, a ship arrives from Spain in the Boston Harbour and will leave England in three days.Hester meets with the ship’s captain to book a passage for two adults and one child, and they will leave Boston once Dimmesdale has finished his Election Sermon.

### Dimmesdale's Sin is Revealed

On the day of the new governor’s inauguration, Hester and Pearl arrive in the marketplace that is crowded with craftsmen and townsfolk.Some of the townsfolk are even wearing deerskin garments that is commonly worn in the forest settlements. Every year, Hester wears a coarse grey dress where the scarlet letter is clearly visible. Everyone recognizes Hester’s same expression when she comes to town, but nobody notices that she is expressing triumph. Hester even thinks to herself that as soon as she is sailing away to England, she can finally throw the scarlet letter away.

Pearl is dressed in light clothing, and on that day is feeling restless and wild. When they reach the crowded marketplace, Pearl asks about the people at the marketplace, where she sees the blacksmith dressed in his Sunday clothes and the old jailer smiling at her. Hester tells her that the jailer remembers her when she was a baby, and Pearl says that he should nod at Hester since she’s wearing a grey dress with the scarlet letter. Pearl also sees some Native Americans and sailors, and Hester says they have come to watch the procession.

## Personality/Appearance

Hester Prynne is displayed as a brave, strong and humble woman who keeps her strength firm as she finds herself the victim of sin. She was punished by wearing the infamous scarlet 'A' letter on her chest, but she never lost her mind or gave up. She will not take any shame that the townsfolk are gossiping about her; deep down, she feels proud that she is staying strong in her hardest times. Following her adulterous affair, Hester is told by Dimmesdale that her daughter Pearl was a punishment from God given to her. She gladly accepts it without shame and sees Pearl as a blessing than a punishment.

Hester takes her affair and illegitimate pregnancy secret very seriously, as she prefers to keep it to herself and not the other Puritans. On the scaffold, the officials constantly pressure her to reveal her lover's name, but she always refuses. She will always do whatever it takes to protect Pearl and her lover's identity; she knows full well that if she reveals who it is, it will ruin his reputation forever and that he is a clergyman of a higher social status. She loves and dotes on Pearl so much that when she finds out the authorities are planning to take Pearl away from her since they think she will make a terrible parent because of her sin, Hester will not let them take her away as she declares that God gave her into her bringing. After she was released from prison, she lived a solitary life outside of Boston and was treated as an outcast. Even though she sometimes feels lonely, she still has Pearl as her companion, so Hester stays strong and vigilant. Without her, Hester would have no idea how she can cope with being shunned by Boston, although there have been times when Hester wanted to kill Pearl for letting her live this lonely existence she is going through. Even so, Hester still cares about Pearl and hardly has any problem raising her as a single parent.

While she is an outcast, Hester becomes a beloved figure in the community as the story progresses. She starts sewing and making clothes for those in need of them. She also began visiting the sick and elderly, providing them with all the necessary care and support.

## References

1. ↑ *The Scarlet Letter* Chapter 3
2. ↑ Chapter 2
3. ↑ Chapter 3
4. ↑ Chapter 4
5. ↑ Chapter 5
6. ↑ Chapter 6
7. ↑ Chapter 7
8. ↑ Chapter 8
9. ↑ Chapter 10
10. ↑ Chapter 12
11. ↑ Chapter 13
12. ↑ Chapter 14
13. ↑ Chapter 15
14. ↑ Chapter 16
15. ↑ Chapter 17
16. ↑ Chapter 18
17. ↑ Chapter 19
18. ↑ Chapter 20
19. ↑ Chapter 21