We arrive in Massachusetts during the 1640s. Hester Prynne exits the town jail, carrying her newborn baby in her arms and brandishing a red A on her bosom. She has been found guilty of committing adultery, albeit with who, no one can say.
Her punishment in doing so would be death, but in this circumstance, the council decides to brand Hester with the letter A, for adulteress. The letter serves as a constant reminder of the sin she has committed, and to warn others in town to tread carefully...
A physician checks in with Hester and her baby. The reader learns that this is actually Hester's husband, Roger, a man who has just finished traveling from England. However, no one in town knows his true identity, and Hester vows not to reveal it. By that same token, she refuses to reveal her accomplice to Roger.
Once she is released from jail, Hester begins a new life with her baby girl on the outskirts of town. Her crime has now made her a pariah, thus communicating with anyone is impossible. So, she begins a quiet career as a seamstress, only walking into town for orders and deliveries of clothing.
Meanwhile, Roger has taken an "affinity" to the town's priest, Arthur. Arthur is possessed by such an immense amount of guilt, that it is starting to deteriorate his health. Roger begins to use Arthur as his subject, and starts to suspect him of being Hester's lover...
A few years pass. Hester's child, Pearl, is about 4-years-old now, and her constitution is growing quite troubling. For lack of better words, it were as though young Pearl were possessed at times.
It becomes revealed to the reader that the source of Arthur's guilt is due to his sin of adultery; his being is nearly destroyed at this point. Hester, on the other hand, has endured years of the townsfolk's scorn, and so much time has passed that many no longer recall what the red letter denotes!
Soon, Hester and Arthur meet in the forest to discuss their situation. Hester comments on the priest's declining health, and how he would benefit greatly from a new life, far away from America... Arthur tells her that he does not have the strength to do so! It is then that Hester reveals that his physician, Roger, is really her husband! Arthur recognizes Roger's malicious intentions, and agrees to leave with Hester and Pearl.
On the day of their departure, Arthur is meant to deliver a sermon during the holiday. The whole town is in attendance. After his sermon, Arthur calls Hester and Pearl onto the stage. He finally reveals that he is Pearl's father and takes accountability for their sin. However, the confession is shortlived, for the priest's accumulated guilt finally catches up with him, and Arthur takes his dying breath on stage.
After Arthur's passing, Roger follows in his footsteps. With no revenge to no longer inspire him, the poor man perishes as well. In his will, he gives his estate in England to Hester and Pearl.
The Scarlet Letter explores some very dark themes, the most prominent of which is the juxtaposition in which Hester and Arthur must deal with their sin. Hester's sin is evident almost immediately and she does not have the choice to hide it. As a woman, she bears the physical consequence of adultery with a child, and as a result, there is an unfair distribution.
Again, Hester's sin is physical, and she bears the consequence immediately through shame. She is ostracized from society, ridiculed and degraded, left without a friend in the world. Worst of all, she is branded for her action, reminding Hester and everyone who sees it of what she has done. There is never a moment's peace from it all...
Arthur, on the other hand, has the option not to take accountability for his sin, and that's exactly what he chooses. In doing so, however, he forfeits whatever integrity he had for a lifetime of guilt. He is left with a burden that he cannot share with anyone, and it consumes him. Nothing can ease his troubles, not even his congregation's words of praise -- in fact, it compounds Arthur's guilt because he knows he is living a lie!
It is obvious that of the two, Hester possesses true strength and courage. She comes to learn that it is a result of the suffering that she had to endure. Sometimes suffering can bear beautiful outcomes.
