Hester Prynne In The Scarlet Letter

A hero or heroine is somebody noted for their courageous acts and their nobility of character. However, not just anybody is suited for this role. It takes someone who is willing to never give up for what they believe. It takes someone who will not crumble under pressure or because of criticism from others. A hero is somebody who never gives up no matter the troubles that face them. Hawthorne uses Hester as the heroine because she is the only character in a puritan society who is morally justified by their actions.
Hester Prynne is “a figure of perfect elegance on a large scale,” a young and beautiful woman (Hawthorne 46). She brought a child into the world with an unknown father. She is punished by Puritan society by wearing the scarlet letter A on the bosom of her dress. The letter is decorated in gold thread; it is decorated in gold because it is a reflection of her spirit. Hester is a very strong woman; it is seen since the very start of this novel. She walks to the scaffold from the prison, she holds her head high and remains in full
Not only is Hester the heroine but she is the driving force of this novel. She is the great power in this novel. She is so powerful that a man cannot live without her. In Chapter 18, Dimmesdale says, “Neither can I any longer live without her companionship; so powerful is she to sustain, —so tender to soothe” (Hawthorne 166). Hester’s presence is so powerful not one but both the men need her. They thrive off her power in order to keep themselves mentally stable. Not only is she such a powerful character, the people begin to realize the good in her actions: “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” (Hawthorne 134). After the people saw how she was changing and saw the good she was doing, they no longer saw her as an embarrassment to the