Why Is Hester Prynne The Worst Woman In Boston

In the novel The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne is Hester Prynne the best or worst woman in Boston. With my evidence I believe that she could be the best woman in Boston, sure she has made some mistakes but those mistakes don’t cover up how good of a person she is. I believe that she got through the bad times with hope, until those times got better. She also took care of her child with love and care, even when she didn’t want to. After leaving for Europe and coming back, because of her sin the women are coming to her for guiding and help. That is why I believe she is the best woman in Boston.

Throughout the whole book Hester Prynne has to deal with the sin of adultery she committed. She got through the bad time of her life

with hope and, continued onto better times with hope. Even though she was being shunned, with her great work of being a seamstress she could make a living. With the little that she got she was always caring for others before herself. She even gave some her money to others in hard times like her. There are multiple times in the book where she was going through a tough time, and got through it. “Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast” (70). “God gave her into my keeping,” repeated Hester Prynne, raising her voice almost to a shriek. “I will not give her up!”(100). With these quotes you can see that she won’t give up even in hard times.
With committing adultery she had to care for her child by herself.

Pearl was a blessing and a curse to Hester. Pearl even sometimes kept her out of trouble. She claims in the book after being asked by Mistress Hibbins “Wilt thou go with us tonight? There will be a merry company in the forest; and I well-nigh promised the Black Man that comely Hester Prynne should make one.” (104). Hester then says if she did not have pearl she would have gladly gone into the forest with her. Pearl could be a sin too because she is always asking questions and Hester thinks about punishing her, yet she still doesn’t because she knows that it’s for the best if she

doesn’t.
In the end of the book after Hester and Pearl had gone to Europe, Hester comes back. There could be many reasons why she comes back, but we don’t know the main reason. It could have been because she knew that her life was almost fully lived, and she wanted to be buried by Dimmesdale. When Hester comes back she is still wearing the A on her chest. Many women there come to her for help and advice because she knows what sin feels like and how to get through it. “As Hester Prynne had no selfish ends, nor lived in any measure for her own profit and enjoyment, people brought all their sorrows and perplexities and besought he counsel, as one who had gone through a mighty trouble.” (139).
With all the evidence she is the best woman in Boston there could be some setbacks.

She had committed adultery and that’s why she had to raise Pearl by herself. She could also be considered a sinner because she kept the identity of Chillingworth, and who was the father of the child Dimmesdale. “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” (52). The scarlet letter A which will remain on her chest for as long as she lives. This red color of the A will make everyone know that she is an adulteress. She will have to live with the burning of the A for the rest of her life because of

this.
With Hester getting through the bad time with hope, and continuing onto the good times. With caring for Pearl with love even though she paid a great price for her. Also with helping other after coming back from Europe with the questions and advice for others. That is why I believe that Hester could be the best woman in Boston.