Who Is Hester Prynne

Hester Prynne was a passionate and free spirited woman who listened to her heart rather than her brain. A key example of this characteristic could be seen when she committed the ultimate sin of adultery with Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester did not commit this sin simply because she wished to hurt her husband Roger Chillingworth, but rather, she developed a deep and devoted romance with her lover. Though the young woman consistently gave in to her desires, this particular incident was more serious. Hester was not a religious woman, but she respected and believed in the Puritan Code. Following Hester’s time in prison, she stayed in Boston and forced herself to endure an ascetic lifestyle, scorned by the townspeople. It was during this time of isolation
that Hester bonded with her daughter Pearl and developed a caring and empathetic nature. Without the distracting gossip and mockery of the Puritan townspeople, Hester had the opportunity to contemplate the Puritan Code. For the longest of time, Hester placed her trust and loyalty into the Puritan religion simply because fate was putative. When Hester took the time to listen to herself and her heart, she discovered hypocrisy and unjustness in her town’s “perfect” religion.