What Is Hester Prynne's Role In The Scarlet Letter
In his masterpiece The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne outlines the narrative of Hester Prynne, a young woman who is forced to bear an embroidered scarlet letter “A” on her breast for her sin of adultery. Alone in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, with her husband in another country, Hester has sexual relations with a Puritan minister, Reverend Dimmesdale, and together they have a child, whom Hester names Pearl. After the Puritan community in which she resides discovers Hester’s sin, as she is unable to conceal it due to her pregnancy, she is forced to display the scarlet-colored symbol of her crime for the rest of her life on her chest. Dimmesdale fails to reveal his role in the affair and acknowledge Pearl as his own, and therefore is able
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In fact, the knowledge that the townspeople are aware of her sin makes Hester stronger. Hester becomes strong-minded enough to face the consequences; she is able to accept her punishment and adapt her life in accordance with it. Not only does she want to atone herself, she wants to change the view of the letter on her bosom. She attains a more humble lifestyle and seeks “not to acquire anything beyond a subsistence, of the plains and most ascetic descriptions, for herself, and a simple abundance for her child” (70). She evens wears clothing of the “coarsest materials” (70) and “most sombre hue,” (70) whereas before, much of her clothing style was sumptuous. As another way of accepting and assisting in the implementation her punishment, Hester starts to invest more in doing good for society. She does this by “[bestowing] all her superfluous means in charity, on wretches less miserable than herself” (70) Through these acts, Hester gains a purpose. Although she does not feel as though she does not belong to society, she “came to have a part to perform in the world” (71). Soon, due to her changed character, Hester’s scarlet letter “A” is shown in a different light: “Such helpfulness was found in her-so much power to do, and power to sympathize-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (138). In her quest for self correction and obliterating the shame attached to her scarlet letter, Hester’s inclination to aid the needy gains her an image of humility and
In fact, the knowledge that the townspeople are aware of her sin makes Hester stronger. Hester becomes strong-minded enough to face the consequences; she is able to accept her punishment and adapt her life in accordance with it. Not only does she want to atone herself, she wants to change the view of the letter on her bosom. She attains a more humble lifestyle and seeks “not to acquire anything beyond a subsistence, of the plains and most ascetic descriptions, for herself, and a simple abundance for her child” (70). She evens wears clothing of the “coarsest materials” (70) and “most sombre hue,” (70) whereas before, much of her clothing style was sumptuous. As another way of accepting and assisting in the implementation her punishment, Hester starts to invest more in doing good for society. She does this by “[bestowing] all her superfluous means in charity, on wretches less miserable than herself” (70) Through these acts, Hester gains a purpose. Although she does not feel as though she does not belong to society, she “came to have a part to perform in the world” (71). Soon, due to her changed character, Hester’s scarlet letter “A” is shown in a different light: “Such helpfulness was found in her-so much power to do, and power to sympathize-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (138). In her quest for self correction and obliterating the shame attached to her scarlet letter, Hester’s inclination to aid the needy gains her an image of humility and