Resumo de Hester Prynne Vs. Scociety

Hester Prynne, the Scarlet Letter?s protagonist
is a huge sinner and adulteress. Throughout the novel, she must carry
the weight of her sin by wearing the Letter ?A? on her chest. As a
result of this letter, the town?s people looked down on her, and think
of her as a wretched, and arrogant woman. The people believed that the
magistrates were too merciful on her, and thought that, a woman so
wicked and scandalous as her should suffer a more severe punishment
than the one enforced on her. The women gossiping outside the jailhouse
concurred that, Hester, ?had brought shame upon all, and ought
to die?(Hawthorne 60). When Hester walked out onto the scaffold, she
was cast wicked glances from her fellow town members. They glared at
the letter on her breast, and stared at the illegitimate child in her
arms. This public shame was not severe enough a punishment for this
wretched woman, in the eyes of the town folk. Any other form of
torture, or penalty would not have been too harsh in the eyes of the
community, for this woman was a huge sinner, and deserved the worst
sentence possible.
After Hester had served her jail time, she was released. After being
released, she took her child with her and lived in a cottage on the
outskirts of town, becoming isolated from her community. In order to
support both herself and her child, she took up the craft of
needlework. Her work being beautiful and fit for the governor was
required for making christening gowns, and the robes of high officials.
Hester Prynne?s needlework was chance for repentance; she made garments
for the poor, and reached out to society and contributed however she
could. Never the less, the people still shunned her, refused to
acknowledge her existence and the wage of her sin. To the people of the
town, Hester was ?like a ghost that revisits the familiar fireside and
can no longer make itself seen or felt?(Hawthorne 98). They ignored her
when she passed, because they were disgusted to be around her. In the
eyes of the town Hester was invisible.
Although the town was cold and alienated her, Hester, as a remorse for
her sin remained submissive and selfless to the public. She helped out
those who needed her, and became known as a ?Sister Of Mercy?(Hawthorne
192). As years progressed, people began to notice her selfless and
helpful deeds; people of the town began to see Hester through another
perspective. Many people in town refused to infer the Scarlet Letter by
its original meaning, instead they said the letter meant able. Hester
Prynne was strong and able to help out in her community; she was a
powerful and able woman.
After many years, Hester still continued her ways, remaining selfless
and kind toward her community. As a result ? the scarlet letter ceased
to be a stigma which attracted the world?s scorn and bitterness, and
became a type of something to be sorrowed over?(Hawthorne 315). The
people saw through her deeds and found her to be a compassionate woman.
Thus, many people, especially woman came to her for solace; they came
to her and complained of how wretched and sinful they were, and
repented, for Hester too, had carried the weight of her huge sin for so
many years, and could consul them give them guidance and comfort them.
She remained at the site of her sin until her death, comforting and
giving guidance to other members of the town. Although, there was a
period in Hester?s life where the town was disgusted by her, and
ignored her, her deep acts of remorse and repentance changed the views
of the town. During the last years of her life, Hester Prynne served as
a prophetess, consoling, and telling her town members about her beliefs
of heaven. The wage of her sin was long forgotten, and the letter, no
longer stood for adulteress. Instead, it was the symbol of an ?angel or
apostle of the coming revelation?(Hawthorne 315).

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