The Role of Hester Pryne in The Scarlet Letter

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The Role of Hester Pryne in The Scarlet Letter

The Role of Hester Prynne in the Development of Plot

and Characterization in the Novel, The Scarlet Letter

Within the novel The Scarlet Letter, the author, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses many ways to characterize Hester Prynne, and to show her importance in the development of the plot. This essay will show some ways Hester is characterized and will also show why and how she develops the plot.

Hester Prynne is characterized as a beautiful woman who does not hide from, but lives with her mistakes and tries to lead the best life she can in a strict, Puritan society. Two main ways are used to characterize Hester Prynne; through dialogue, and narrative descriptions. Dialogue is used to show what others think and what Hester thinks, to show what kind of person she is, or is seen, to be.

“‘At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne’s forehead. Madam Hester would have winced at that, I warrant me. But she,-- the naughty baggage, --little will she care what they put upon the bodice of her gown! Why, look you, she may cover it with a brooch, or such like heathenish adornment, and so walk the streets as brave as ever!’” (Hawthorne 49).

This quote from a townswoman tells the reader what Hester is like, she must wear the scarlet letter, but she wears it with bravery. Hawthorne uses dialogue to explain what characters strengths and weaknesses are. This quote tells the reader that Hester Prynne is very good at sowing; “‘She hath good skill at her needle, that’s certain,’” (51). Hawthorne uses many quotes to describe Hester; to show her values by what she teaches her daughter Pearl, to describe her predicament with the Reverend...

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...hen vital information would be missing; the fact that Chillingworth was Hester’s fiance would not be revealed, information about Pearl would also not be given. This story is mostly focused on Hester, and therefore she must be important to developing the plot. The four main characters of this story available were; Hester, Chillingworth, Pearl, and Dimmesdale. Take away Hester, and Pearl is not born, Chillingworth is not a factor, Dimmesdale doesn’t have an affair, and there is no plot.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter, uses certain techniques to characterize the main character, Hester Prynne, to mold her into the woman he wants her to be. He shapes her to develop the plot in a way he deems worthy. He uses mainly dialogue and narrative descriptions to help the reader visualize the character and does a great job developing the plot with her.

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