Hester Prynne
...and dignity, rather than by the delicate, evanescent, and indescribable grace which is now recognised as its indication. (Pg. 47) This description of Hester early on in the novel is later learned to be the exact opposite of her final display. After wearing the scarlet letter for a fair amount of time, Hester begins to hide her once long, gorgeous, flowing hair beneath a cap. Not only do her dominant features fade with age and her depressive state, but Hester eventually loses her genteel stature and takes on a more aggressive, "countrywoman" appearance familiar to the fellow women of her community. As a result of her affair with Reverand Dimmesdale, Hester is forced into isolation from the the town officials, high-ranking woman, children, and all of the rest of the Boston colony. Because the only person Hester has to confide in for such a lengthy period of time is her daughter, she develops a stronger intelligence and becomes more contemplative than she had been before. She begins to more closely examine and question human nature in general. This new interest in free-thinking causes her stray away from the common teachings of the community and to accept her own independent ideas instead. Although these changes in Hester Prynne's character are undeniable, the unwavering loyalty and dedication she exhibits throughout her entire lifetime is a more remarkable observation. When Hester is called up onto the scaffold early on in the story, Reverand Dimmesdale ironically requests that she reveal the identity of the man with who she had an affair. In response she says, "I will not speak! And my child must seek a heavenly Father; she shall never know an earthly one."(Pg. 61) This refusal to speak of the man's name only goes to show that she was a selfless and trustworthy person. Had she just revealed his idenitity at that moment, she may have escaped a lifetime of shame. Instead, she kept her word and stayed faithful to Reverand Dimmesdale. Another example of her faithful obedience can be found with regard to the safe-keeping of Dr. Chillingworth's identity. When Chillingworth came to treat Hester as if she were a patient when she was suffering in jail, he urges her to also speak of her lover's name. He makes her promise to conceal his identity also when she refuses to confess her partner's name. Because of Chillingworth's disdainful attitude toward her and his obvious seek for revenge, Hester begins to wonder if he is the "Black Man". But instead of informing the town officials of his true status out of fear of what he may do in the future, Hester again remains loyal to her husband until the point later on in the story when she comes to the conclusion she hates him and tells only Reverand Dimmesdale of his true name. Aside from her overwhelming trust-worthiness shown in the situations with both Revererand Dimmesdale and her husband, Hester Prynne also posseses a dedication and loyalty to her daughter unlike no other. Hawthorne describes Pearl as, "...a born outcast of the infantile world. An imp of evil, emblem and product of sin..." (Pg. 84) All the people of the townspeople, including the fellow children are aware of Pearl's indifference. They figure that if Pearl is a "demon-child," she should be retrieved from Hester for Hester's sake. If Pearl is infact a regular human child, they feel should should be removed from Hester's care and placed under control of a more suitable parent. In either case, Hester could be ridden of the burden of caring for an unwanted child. However, when Governor...