Character Profile: Hester Prynne

1. Character Profile: Hester Prynne Adultery was considered a mortal sin back in the 17th century; Hester Prynne committed this sin. Hester was married to a man named Roger Chillingworth, who she lived with in London, England for a while. Her husband, Roger, supposedly had “business” to attend to, so he had Hester move to Massachusetts. Hester lived there by herself for quite some time. This is where she committed the sin of adultery. Hester is described on page 50 as a woman who is very attractive “The young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance on a large scale. She had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam, and a face which, besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes.” While in Massachusetts, she met Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, who also found her to be very attractive. The two had an affair which led to the impregnation of Hester. Hester claimed she never had real feelings for her husband as she stated on page 69. She was arrested for her crime and was forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” for “Adultery” on her chest so everyone would know what she had done. Many judged and shunned Hester for her wrongdoings.

2. Character Profile: Continued Luckily, Hester was a very independent woman. She and her daughter, Pearl, lived on the outskirts of town for seven years. Despite the peoples actions towards her, she never lost her pride. She wore her “A” with dignity. Hester never did reveal the fact that Dimmesdale was the father. He himself revealed this, as this guilt ate him alive and finally drove him into his death. Hester moved over seas for a while, but returned later on. When she returned she was no longer looked at as a criminal. Instead, people admired her for the way she acted during her situation. Many people began coming to her for advice and help. She was now admired. “And, as Hester Prynne had no selfish ends, nor lived in any measure for her own profit and enjoyment, people brought all their sorrows and perplexities, and besought her counsel, as one who had herself gone through a mighty trouble. Women, more especially,- in the continually recurring trials of wounded, wasted, wronged, misplaced, or erring and sinful passion,- or with the dreary burden of a heart unyielded, because unvalued and unsought,- came to Hester’s cottage, demanding why they were so wretched, and what the remedy! Hester comforted and counseled them the best she might.” [Page 234] The shame bearing the scarlet letter disappeared. It was worn with pride the rest of her life. The way she dealt with the circumstances defines her character. And for her character, she was looked up to.