Of all the characters in The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne. the supporter. is the strongest and most brave. But. that is non to state that she is insusceptible to alter. Over the class of the novel. Hester remains unchanged in some countries. such as strength and honestness. but her beauty and societal position vary greatly.
One trait that defines Hester throughout the novel is strength. Strength in the head and besides in the bosom is what makes Hester a dramatic individual in a glooming society. This strength was inside of her all along. but it is the vermilion missive that finally brings it to our attending. During the first scaffold scene. Nathaniel Hawthorne notes her “natural self-respect and force of character. ” Her poise under examination is singular during this important scene. Her might is besides apparent in her traffics with both her hubby. Roger Chillingworth. and besides her lover. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester repeatedly denies Chillingworth the satisfaction of cognizing her fellow evildoer. And in the forest scene. Dimmesdale acknowledges that she has the strength he lacks and he calls on her aid in his clip of demand. Besides. she shows honestness by openly acknowledging her wickedness. unlike Dimmesdale who hides and is weakened. Hester is beautiful non merely on the interior. but besides physically attractive on the exterior.
Hester’s bodily beauty is first mentioned during the original scaffold scene. when she is described as a tall immature adult female with a “figure of perfect elegance on a big graduated table. ” Her most baronial characteristic is her elegant calendered hair. which is let loose and blows freely in the air current. Seven old ages after her penalty for her wickedness though. that beauty is gone. Her calendered hair is hidden under a cap and her heat is diminished. buried under the luxuriant vermilion missive. When she does finally take the emblem. she immediately regains the beauty she possessed earlier. Pearl. unhappy with her mother’s alteration. demands that she reattach the vermilion “A” . Although the missive does overcast her beauty. it does derive her a regard in the Puritan society through clip.
Directly after being punished during the first scaffold scene. Hester and Pearl and take from society. They are forced to populate on the outskirts of town. surviving by her accomplishment with a yarn and needle. Honesty does predominate ; Hester openly acknowledges her wickedness and done non try to conceal it. For this. the townspeople Begin to look up to her and progressively reaccept her into society. Being every bit strong as she is. Hester does non necessitate the acknowledgment because she is content with herself. In the terminal. Dimmesdale dies after his public confession and Chillingworth dies consumed by his ain hate and retaliation. but Hester lives on. softly. and becomes something of a fable in the settlement. Through peace and satisfaction. Hester journeys from a normal immature adult female populating in Puritan society. to a societal castaway shacking on the outskirts of the forest ; so. as though a wages from God. she rises above all others and into the Black Marias of many. sharing her compassion and giving strength to all that retrieve her.
In decision. Hester’s strength remains stainless throughout The Scarlet Letter. while her physical beauty and societal position alter greatly. both for the good and bad. Hester. every bit beautiful as she is. can non be perfect. But her honestness. compassion. and strength are more than plenty to alleviate her psyche.
