How Does Hester Change Throughout The Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne's Hester Prynne is the underdog protagonist that the reader cannot help but want to succeed. She is flawed but her flaws are outshone by her good heart and spirit. This shamed and humiliated woman is the one the reader, with the help of Hawthorne’s descriptions, wants to support. This sinful woman, with a child from wedlock, a diabolical “husband”, and a secretive lover is the motivating force that drives the reader to continue on with The Scarlet Letter. The language, descriptions, and plot of The Scarlet Letter show that Hawthorne believes the reader should look past gender stereotypes because not everything is what is

As the novel progresses the meaning of the symbolism of the letter “A” starts ti blossom into a new meaning. Toward the climax of the novel Hester Prynne’s appearance is altered to where she is no longer viewed as a sinner. The meaning on the symbol changes from of the devil to a some what vague symbol, as if it has lost its initial connotation. Society now views her a symbol that differs whom she really is, she is viewed as a strong woman through all the torment that is put in a unfortunate situation. At this point Hester has already learned how to dealt with the burden of the scarlet letter. Withstanding the pressures of society boiling down waiting patiently for Hester Prynne to crack, she does not, she grows into a stronger woman. A woman that has gone through hell and back and continues to thrive in her society even under the circumstances she lives in. The scarlet letter “A” meaning has changed, “ hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility” (Hawthorne 147). Slowly Hester’s hard feelings toward the letter, and to the situation itself, begins to diminish. However, it is

In The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne is more than a literary figure in a classic novel, she is known by some people to be one of the earliest American Hero’s. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Hester commits adultery and has a child that she must care for all alone. She is forced to wear a powerful, attention grabbing “Scarlet A” on her chest while she must try to make a living to support her and her child, Pearl. Even though she must face all the harsh judgment and stares she does not allow her sin to stop her from living a successful life. She looks past the Letter as a symbol of sin and turns it into a sign of approval. Hester

By initially facing her fears of living in public with the shameful mark of the Scarlet Letter, Hester was able to accept this life and continue without the fear of public scorn and humiliation. Although the mark still played a heavy role Hester’s place in society, she was able to overcome its hindrance to an extent, and turn the letter into something positive in the eyes of the Puritans, as shown when the author writes, “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” (Hawthorne 158.) By accepting her fears initially and standing brave in the face of her apprehension over the Scarlet Letter, Hester was able to live a life free of the fear which could have plagued her, and instead became a positive force in society. Hester faced her fear of the town judging the Scarlet Letter and turned to a life of selflessness and

Also, Hawthorne juxtaposes motifs to reveal Hester’s point-of-view and understanding. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester forcefully wears the embroidered letter “A” with golden thread representing sin and adultery. Then, her daughter asks, “What does the letter mean, mother?” Her mother responds, “for the scarlet letter, I wear it for the sake of its gold-thread” (163). In this quote, Hester is hiding the real logic of why she is wearing the scarlet letter, because she understands Pearl is still a child, she would not be able to understand the hypocrisy of the society. Furthermore, the community forced her to wear it as a source of a punishment. However, this juxtaposition of wearing the item for the sake of its beauty, is a different idea contrasting the genuine reason of why she is wearing the scarlet letter. Additionally, another symbolism that Hawthorne juxtaposes is the meaning of the allegorical object in the novel. This object is the scarlet letter, which its meaning changed from the beginning to the end of the book. At first, the author represents the idea of the wickedness of the letter it has on Hester, “[that] transfigured [Hester] . . . [and it] illuminated upon her bosom” (51). Not only, the scarlet letter has a peculiar “effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself” (51). Thus, the author interprets the meaning of the scarlet letter

As time goes on, the townspeople view the letter with a different meaning. It was a great mistake at first showing her imperfection, but later it became something of awe and almost respect. Hawthorne explains, “That many people refused to interpret the Scarlet Letter “A” by its original signification. They said it meant “Able”; so strange was Hester Prynne…” (Hawthorne 158). This proves the letter is double sided in a figurative sense. It was painful but it taught Hester and the town a lesson. It also lead to respect. The Scarlet letter burns on her bosom with great agony, but it made her smarter and more respected over time. It’s a teacher and a form of torture. Imperfection comes in many forms, even in the form of her child.

In the beginning of the novel, Hester refuses to let her sin define her, which her subtle, beautiful, yet defiant nature displays. With all eyes on her as she walks out of the jail, the townspeople notice “On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A” (Hawthorne 46). This embroidered A serves as a punishment of her sin and is supposed to be a disgraceful, ugly reminder to her and everyone around her. If she had succumbed to her punishment and the persona that went with it, then it would be an ugly A, but she makes

Hester’s society, including the poor, look down upon her. Regardless of her town’s feelings and her own poverty, Hester provides for the poor. Her actions prove her ability to stand above the crowd and, in the eyes of her community, “right her wrong.” Through her actions the public notes that “none so ready as she to give of her little substance to every demand of poverty” and “in all seasons of calamity . . . the outcast of society at once found her place” (Hawthorn 144). Hester does everything she can to aid her town, regardless of circumstance. During her aid, the scarlet letter is described as “the taper of the sick-chamber” (Hawthorne 145). The modern translation says, “it shined like a candle in the homes of the sick” (“The Scarlet Letter: No Fear Literature”). Truly, in these desperate situations, Hester was able to have a positive influence and to use her abilities for the greater good. Through these deeds the scarlet letter comes to bear a new meaning. Hester’s “warm and rich” nature and her “power to do and power to sympathize” transform the “A” from its original connotation, adultery, to the word “Able” (Hawthorne 145). Instead of showcasing Hester’s flaw, the token comes to symbolize her strength, compassion, and

In the book, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester is very strong-willed and loyal. For example, when Dimmesdale tells Hester to identify the father and she replies, “I will not speak!” (51). When Hester is in front of many people; she stays strong and does not give Dimmesdale up. This is important because by not revealing the identity of the father, Hester stays loyal to Dimmesdale. Another example is when the governor tries to take Pearl away from Hester and she says, “Ye shall not take her! I will die first!” (85). Hester continues to be tough and not give up Pearl but also does not give the name of Pearl’s father. Hester continues to argue why she should keep Pearl and is willing to die before she would let someone else raise

She is someone who didn’t let a mistake completely ruin her life. She instead use her misfortune to encourage, motivate and help others. She became a seamstress which helped to symbolize Hester's need in the community. The scarlet letter is meant to symbolize shame but instead becomes a symbol of identity to Hester and to the rest of the people. The letter A is originally intended to mean adulterer but as time passes it comes to mean able and later angel. On her grave stone it is written “ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER A. GULES” (Hawthorne 246).

In Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter Hester is a strong dynamic character. The scarlet letter “A” upon Hester’s chest gives her confidence because she knows that everyone sins and she can learn from her own. She holds her head high during this seven years of punishment. Hester is the first one to come out and confess, which demonstrates her confidence level. Hawthorne says, “In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token would but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her arm, and, with a burning blush, and yet a haughty

The sin of adultery she once made doesn't exist in the letter A any more. It has transformed from "adultery" into "able", "acceptable", and off course it's made Hester the woman of pride, kindness, and respect. Hester did such an outstanding evolution that no woman in her times can: expressing self-identity, proving woman strength by showing her self-reliance and independence, revealing her goodness and kindness for people, and earning respect and pride.

The townspeople have begun to regard Hester with a certain amount of respect. She has been pure in heart and deed ever since her public fall from graces, and she is charitable to the poor. Hester earns her money by doing stitch-work for local dignitaries, but she often spends her time helping the poor and sick. In fact, her suffering makes her kinder toward others. She knows how to offer grace, because she had been denied it herself. People begin to suggest that the A stands for Able. Some suggest that the scarlet letter connotes holiness. For Hester, however, the symbol has hardened her against ever feeling passion of affection again. She has ceased, in short, to be a

I wonder why Hester refuses to stop wearing the scarlet letter. I guess for Hester to remove the scarlet Hester would be for he to acknowledge it as in determining who she really is. Hester has grown with this embroidered A on her bosom, so for her to take it off would be crazy especially after seven years. I think Hester wants to be the one to control its meaning not society. The scarlet letter is a part of her past sin. She can’t pretend that never happened because it did, she would be denying a part of herself if she did. She is now a role model in her community, they now view Hester as a sorrowful one and as others. Hester understood the letter to be a symbol of her, she took it on as a carrier for identity. I think Hester’s is connected

In the beginning of the novel, the reader is presented with a physical appearance of Hester that is pleasing to the visual eye. It is Hawthorne describes his heroine of the book by