Hester Prynne
Fictional Character
Hester Prynne is the main character of Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter. Set in Massachusetts colony in Puritan times, the story tells of Hester's scandalous affair with the minister Arthur Dimmesdale, which results in the birth of Hester's daughter Pearl. Hester protects Dimmesdale by concealing his identity from the community, but is forced to wear on her clothing the letter 'A' for adultery -- the 'scarlet letter' of the story's title. Always a sympathetic character, Hester is also now seen by some as an early example of feminine strength and moxie in American literature.Extra credit: Actresses who have played Hester in film versions of The Scarlet Letter include Lillian Gish (in 1926) and Demi Moore (in 1995).
Four Good Links
eText: The Scarlet Letter
No-frills text of the entire novel, courtesy of the University of Virginia
SparkNotes: The Scarlet Letter
Extensive academic shorthand for the book, with good notes on Hester
Cliff Notes: Hester Prynne
Plenty of details on Hester, with student-friendly analysis of her character
Subverting the Subversive
Whew! Deep-thinking essay on Hawthorne's treatment of Hester and other women characters
Vital Stats
Birth
1850
(age 158)
Birthplace
Death
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Best Known As
Adulterous heroine of The Scarlet Letter
