Chapter 3 ( IIi )

Hester displays acts of courage that portray her as a heroic character. Hester clearly suffers from her punishment of having to wear the scarlet letter ‘A’ in public as she attempts to maintain

At what point are you certain that Chillingworth is Hester’s husband? Cite the passage that confirms your suspicions.

At first Hester, agrees to Chillingworth’s terms to keep his real identity a secret. This in return hurt Dimmesdale, her secret lover. She does not stand up to Chillingworth out of fear of the chain effect of damage it would cause. Hester says, “I will keep thy secret, as I have his”, which in essence shows her weakness towards a male. Yet, at the end of the book, she recognizes that she must “do what might be in her power for the rescue of the victim on whom [Chillingworth] had so evidently set his gripe”. She comes to the conclusion that hiding Chillingworth’s secret does not help Dimmesdale like she hopes, but in fact, hurts him further. The fact that she realizes this, though, displays her to be an devoted and loyal person. These qualities display many things a female, main character, in those times, did not have much opportunity to play, especially in the role of which Hester plays it.

4. Upon whom does Chillingworth put the blame for Hester's sin? How much is her fault? How much is his own?

In nearly everything she does, as a young child, she finds immense pleasure. However, the forest is also a safe place. the unhappy culprit sustained herself as best a woman might, under the heavy weight of a thousand unrelenting eyes all fastened upon her, and concentrated on her bosom. Her existence came from what Puritanism deems “evil”. Hester demonstrates human naturalness by obeying her instinctual urges and having a relationship with Reverend Dimmesdale.

Despite the lonely life that she leads Hester somehow finds an inner strength to defy both the townspeople and the local government. Hester’s strength is apparent also in dealing with her husband, Chillingworth and

Conflict is first observed through Hester’s ongoing difficulties with her fellow townspeople. Hester receives ridicule from on looking townspeople, as a gossiping woman states, ‘ “At the very least, they

After Hester’s release from prison, she had the freedom to leave with a chance for new beginnings. Hester feared “she would become the general symbol at which the preacher and moralist might point, and in which they might vivify and embody their images of a woman’s fraility and sinful passion” (Hawthorne 83). However, Hester decides not to run. Not to hide from the embarrassing laughs and shameful chuckles of the townspeople. By staying in Boston and disregarding others’ meager opinions, Hester shows that she overcame the harsh labels tacked on her by her community.

She came, not as a guest, but as a rightful inmate, into the household that was darkened by trouble” (146). This proves that even though Hester was left alone, her actions change the views of the community around her: “They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (146). Hester’s abilities surprise community members helping her gain respect from the residents in the Puritan town.

He is disgusted with Prynne’s actions and how she overcomes adultery to rise up in society. Lawrence states that Hester is a demon and a “man must be pure, just that [she] can seduce him to a fall” (Lawrence). He illustrates Hester as a woman who's only job is to seduce men. Lawrence’s attitude towards Hester is impeccably disgusting, convincing the reader that Hester is not a woman to be idolized. Another way Lawrence expresses a very critical tone is by claiming that “Hester Prynne is the greatest nemesis of woman” (Lawrence).

This scene set the tone for the story and makes a reader want to keep reading. As Hester keeps trying to persuade her husband, she talks about her childhood and her experience at the circus. She says that she loved it as a younger child and would have never forgiven her father if he would have

In chapter 3, the readers are introduced to a mysterious new character, and tension appears. As Hester continues to endure her punishment at the pillory, she stares down from the platform and notices a strange man among the crowd, standing next to a Native American. "Although, by a seemingly careless arrangement of his heterogeneous garb, he had endeavored to conceal or abate the peculiarity, it was sufficiently evident to Hester Prynne, that one of this man’s shoulders rose higher than the other." Hester instantly recognizes the man by the deformity which he carries on one of his shoulders. In fact, this is not the first time the reader is introduced to this man, he is briefly referred to back in chapter 2, when Hester attempts to avoid further shaming and finds refuge in her memories: "There she beheld another countenance, of a man well stricken in years, a pale, thin, scholar-like visage, with eyes dim and bleared by the lamp-light that had served them to pore over many ponderous books.

Towards the end of the novel, Hester gets the break in life she’s been waiting for. She put up with seven years of shame and guilt, to finally be the person she used to be. Her rekindled love with Arthur makes her happy again, and everything just seems right for them. She’s filled with hope that her life will finally turn back to normal again. She feels redeemed, and the guilt is no longer on her shoulders. She’s now ready to take on the world, and start her life over to the way it was before the “A” entered her life. Having the courage to show her face in the colony again is just a sign of her bravery.

Next, the interaction between Chillingworth and Hester further proves Hester’s strength. Chillingworth orders Hester to tell him the name of Pearl’s father. Hester refuses, “Ask me not! That thou shalt never know!” (Chapter 4). This is surprising now because during the puritan times, husbands had control over their spouses. Women were seen as disobedient if they didn’t follow their husband’s orders. The setting and Hester’s replies to Chilling worth shows Hester’s obvious strength and her

In the novel, Hester Prynne was looked down upon due to her reputation from wearing the scarlet letter "A" on her bosom. In the novel, it appeared that Hester was intimidated by Roger Chillingworth which was why she promised to keep his identity a secret. The relationship between Mistress Hibbins and Hester was very strange in the way that both characters were females, but Mistress Hibbins had a higher status in society which made her feel superior to Hester. Hester had a complex relationship with Reverend Dimmesdale in the way that they both respected each other especially when they were hidden from the public eye. The idea of masculinity and femininity was prevalent throughout the novel and was seen in characters including Hester, Roger,