Reichard 1 Melissa Reichard American Literature I Dr.

Bernath 14 February 2011 Hester Prynnes Pride and Humbleness In Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, readers are presented with a complex character containing two traits that are reflected throughout the novel. Hester Prynne is a youthful and beautiful woman who is condemned for committing adultery with Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale. As a result of Hesters sin, she bares a young girl, takes the punishment for two, and experiences a journey that allows her to grow in strength, wisdom, and courage. Hester gains respect from readers by exhibiting both pride and humbleness in her character. Hester Prynne illustrates both strong and weak points throughout The Scarlet Letter. One of Hesters strong points is her ability to take her mistake and turn it around to strengthen her. Despite the sneers and judgments from the townspeople, Hester held her head high and recognized that what she did was wrong. Hester felt that the only one who can judge her and forgive her was God: no one else mattered. Though Hester wanted to hide her sin by covering the scarlet A, she never did. Instead, she used what the scarlet A stood for in order to build her strength as a woman and her faith in God. In addition to her strong points, Hester was a skilled seamstress. When she made her scarlet A, she made it large and extravagant in order to show everyone that adultery was the sin she had committed; however, she cant take it back, but rather learn from it. Hester also made clothing for others and proved herself to be sufficient and useful in something that the town would appreciate. But it is not recorded that, in a single instance, her skill was called in aid to embroider the white veil in which was to cover the pure blushes of a

Reichard 2 bride (Hawthorne, 57). Though Hester was banished for committed adultery, the community still needed her. Being skilled with her needle, Hester provided services to the community that no other woman could fulfill as adequately. As far as Hesters strength in regards to her relationship with Dimmesdale, Hester took on the punishment on her own. She could have turned Dimmesdale in and made the punishment for two, but she kept quiet and bore that punishment for Dimmesdale as well. Though it was a difficult punishment for one person to take on, Hester was content with protecting Dimmesdale. Hester never said whom it was that she committed adultery with, even under pressure. Thus, in a way, Hester illustrated one of her weakest points. Throughout the novel, Hester depicted subtle weak points; however, no matter how subtle they were, they still played a large part in the internal conflict she was battling. Hester Prynne was a young and beautiful woman who was married to a man that was said to have been dead. Being lonely, Hester lusted for the presence of a man. What she found, was a minister who had 1usted for her just the same; however, not being confirmed a widow, Hester partook in a sinful act: adultery. Hester had committed adultery with Dimmesdale and as a result, she bore a child named Pearl. When Hester had confronted her sin, she was punished with public shame. Hester was sentenced to stand on a scaffold while a panel of ministers and town elders discussed further punishment. On the panel, discussing Hesters punishment was Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale not only committed adultery with Hester, but he also partook in hypocrisy. There he stood, a worthy and noble reverend who preached the word of God, yet allowed a young woman to stand in the face of public to be shamed for a sin that he had a hand in as well. Hester, however, illustrates her weak point here because she allows Dimmesdale to sit on the panel to judge her, but does not reveal that he is the one who committed adultery with her. Speak out the name! That, and thy

Reichard 3 repentance may avail to take the scarlet letter off thy breast. Never! replied Hester, looking, not at Mr. Wilson, but into the deep and troubled eyes of the younger clergyman. It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine (Hawthorne, 47)! In a way, Hester allowed Dimmesdale to walk on her. He was just as guilty as she was, if not worse, because of his position as a minister, but she didnt say anything; she took the punishment for two. When reflecting upon herself, Hester sees herself beneath others, but eventually grows to put herself on the same level. At first, Hester sees herself as a shameful being. Her first instinct and desire is to hide her scarlet A, believing that she would be covering up her sin. There are several times in which she contemplates on placing Pearl in front of her bosom to hide the shame; She clutched the child so fiercely to her breast, that it sent forth a cry; she turned her eyes downward at the scarlet letter, and even touched it with her finger, to assure herself that the infant and the shame were real. Yes!these were her realities,--all else had vanished (Hawthorne, 41)! Hester couldnt believe what she did was true. In the beginning, her sin seemed vague to her and her shame didnt feel true. Though she knew it was, it took some time before the reality of it sank in. In addition, there was a time when Hester was walking through the village, thinking about her sin. She had been an outcast to society and had been tossed to the side as an example of pure sin. For every time Hester walked through the village with her child, the scarlet letter would burn into not only Hester, but all of the women and men who had seen it. When strangers looked curiously at the scarlet letter,-- and none ever failed to do so, --they branded it afresh into Hesters soul; so that, oftentimes, she could scarcely refrain, yet always did refrain, from covering the symbol with her hand. But then, again, an accustomed eye had likewise its own anguish to inflict. Its

Reichard 4 cool stare of familiarity was intolerable. From first to last, in short, Hester Prynne had always this dreadful agony in feeling a human eye upon the token; the spot never grew callous; it seemed, on the contrary, to grow more sensitive with daily torture. But sometimes, once in many days, or perchance in many moths, she felt and eyea human eyeupon the ignominious brand, that seemed to give the momentary relief, as if half of her agony were shared. . .Had Hester sinned alone (Hawthorne, 59)? Hester deals with the scorn from the townspeople every day; however, at one point she admits that when women stare at her scarlet A, Hester feels as though she is not alone in her sin. The only difference between Hester and the women from the town is that Hester had atoned for her sin, whereas these other women did not. At this moment, readers are able to see a transformation begin inside of Hester. Hester begins to realize that she is wearing the sin of others as well. Hester begins to see that her scarlet letter stands for not only her own sin, but other womens as well. In the beginning, Hester Prynne was embarrassed by the sin she had committed. Hester exhibited humbleness through attempting to hide her scarlet A and seeing herself beneath others; however, as she grew in strength, she began to grow proud of herself. Hester was able to see that her sin had helped her become stronger in her faith, had given her a beautiful child that she can teach, and had shouldered the sin of others who could not confess to it. Hesters levels of humbleness and pride were just the right amount to keep her in balance. Hester knew what she did was wrong, allowing it to help her to be strong, but yet she was humbled by it because she knew she was wearing the shame for others as well. The pride that is generated from her sin is directed more towards her inner being and the woman she has grown to be. Hester knew that

Reichard 5 what she did was wrong, and though she may not necessarily be proud of it, Hester knew that her sin helped her to grow in other ways that she can be proud of.

Reichard 6 Work Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.,1994. 180. Print.