Hester Prynne Character Traits

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writing The Scarlet Letter is an extremely influential and inciteful piece of literature that can be inputted in today's society. It was originally set in the mid seventeenth century in a Puritan New England age of time in Massachusetts Bay Colony also known as Boston, Massachusetts. Hawthorne wrote about a young lady named Hester Prynne who commits the sin of adultery with Reverend Dimmsdale while still technically married to Roger Chillingworth, who she was arranged to marry. Hester’s sin is exposed when she becomes pregnant with her daughter Pearl. All of the characters live in the same Puritan town, Hester and Pearl are outcasted from the town because of the sin Hester committed, while Chillingworth pretends to
be someone else so that he may find out Pearl’s Father. Hester is required by the town to wear a scarlet letter hence the title of the book for the rest of her life, which is supposed to represent her sin so that everybody knows that she had committed adultery. Even though to the town it seemed as if Hester was an unacceptable person she proved to the whole town that she was quite the opposite with her self - sufficient behavior, courageous personality, and individualistic demeanor that shines throughout the book.

One of the most significant personality traits that Hester beholds is her ability to stand on her own.
After the town learned about Hester’s sin she moved out into the outskirts of town with her daughter Pearl who was soon to be expected. Hawthorne clearly states that she did not vanish when he said “Hester Prynne, therefore, did not flee. On the outskirts of the town, within the verge of the Peninsula, but not in close vicinity to any other inhabitation, there was a small thatched cottage…….In this little, lonesome dwelling, with some slender means that she possessed, and by the license of the magistrates, who still kept an inquisitorial watch over her, Hester established herself, with her infant child.”(Hawthorne 74 - 75). Hester clearly is an independent woman considering the fact she took care of herself and a baby with no help whatsoever. For example; she refused to believe the meaning of the “A” had changed because she felt as if no matter the meaning people would think what they wanted to. The town's thought about the scarlet letter had changed, “...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 women’s strength.” (Hawthorne 146). The original meaning of Hester’s scarlet letter was Adulteress, however; it changed as Hester had changed. Throughout the book Hester's Independence is shown from the start to the
end.

Hester courageous nature shines on two major separate occasions the book in all types of ways.
Hester had been taunted and embaressed by the whole town in spite of the fact that her boldness made her stand out. Due to the fact that Hester was forced to wear Scarlet letter A, “On the breasts of her gown, in fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A. It was so artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxurious of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore..” (Hawthorne 61). She showed her bravery by means of owning her punishment and making it like herself, beautiful and bright. Hester refuses to reveal the name of her partner that she has committed this crime with even though Roger Chillingworth would constantly nag her. Chillingworth becomes angry with Hester when she does not cave and says to her “Thou Wilt not reveal his name? Not the less he is mine….. He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garmet, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart Yet fear not for him….Let him hide himself in outward honor, if he may! Not the less he shall be mine!” (Hawthorne 70 - 71). Hester could just confess the name of Dimmsdale to others and her punishment would be lessened, nevertheless she bears throughout the mocking and agony of her post consequence of the sin. Courage is not defined by what we go through it is the ability
we have in ourselves to face and overcome all obstacles that we may run into.

We can all learn a little from Hester's ability to stand on her own two feet with little to no help from anybody else and her individualistic ness. She was a single mother that did not need help and many of the townspeople saw her “gliding silently through the town, with never any companion but one only child.” (Hawthorne 99). Hester had to support not only herself but also her daughter, Pearl for almost more than seven years with no help from her husband or Pearl’s father, Dimmsdale. Without her strong demeanor Hester would have never been able to withstand the isolated confinement she experiences. Hester is also very individualistic and takes pride in herself “In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her arm, and with a burning blush, and yet a naughty smile, and a glance that would not be abashed, looked around at her townspeople and neighbors.” (Hawthorne 61). She shows that just because of the fact that Hester had committed a sin the townspeople would not be able to bring her down. Even if Hester was scared for just a small period of time, her confidence would overpower her own doubting thoughts and she would soon realize that it will be okay in the end no matter what happens in the middle. In spite of the fact that the townspeople felt as if Hester was not an exceptional role model or a good person she demonstrates quite the opposite with her ability to stand on her own, her bravery, and her own unique personality from beginning to end. One of the most strong traits Hester holds is her independence and her need to have the satisfaction of completing everything with no help. Not only does she display bravery and courage from start to finish so does her daughter Pearl who had inherited that specific attribute from her mother. Her independence and her courage both tie into the fact that Hester is herself the whole time and does not try to change who she is or what she had done in the past. Hawthorne presents and idea of sin and evilness throughout the book but I think he was also trying to exhibit something much more than just sin. I believe he was trying to offer an example of someone who had got caught up in worldly things but overcame all stumbling blocks with her self reliance, strength, and personality.