Dignity amid Calamity: A Study of The Scarlet Letter

“Hold up your chin there is always light at the end of the tunnel,” one might comment to a friend when they are stuck in a dilemma. Hester Prynne, commits adultery in the era of strict Puritans and sin, especially adultery, not being tolerable. Hawthorne’s rose bush in The Scarlet Letter not only exemplifies hope in the midst of calamity, but also incorporates a more in depth meaning to it; The people who surround Hester pry into her life not only because of the exquisite, luring “A” she created to sew on her bosom to serve as her punishment, but the way Hester carries herself with dignity. In a world where you’re expected to fear God and live a life according to his commands, sin is never welcomed. In Hawthorne’s book, The Scarlet Letter Hester is found guilty of committing adultery and is not sentenced to death, rather is sent to prison where she sews an “A” to place on her bosom. Being fully aware of her sin, Hester

Ironically she appeared “more ladylike” (47) than usual, perhaps because of the way she stood with awareness. It’s odd that Hester appears more attractive now that she is being humiliated because when one is in an uncomfortable situation there is a wall that goes up block out everything. In this case, there is only confidence and integrity being portrayed. Hester feels all the eyes prying on her and her baby girl so she stands there almost mocking them that she still feels valuable.

When everyone expected Hester Prynne to crumble and vanish, she proves the people wrong by standing her ground and not taking people’s remarks. She is a firm women who accepts her mistake and quickly picks herself up in an effort to better herself. She does not speak of the bad but rather focuses on the good in an effort to create herself the way she’s portrayed through her eyes so confidence would be the only characteristic to flourish from