In the beginning of the book, Hester Prynne, a civilian from Massachusetts Bay Colony, is being led to the scaffold where she is sentenced to be publicly shamed for committing the act of adultery. Within her sentence, Hester is forced to embroider a large scarlet “A” on all of her dresses. She had stitched the “A” with gold thread, which added a sense of elegance that she is now denied. On the scaffold, Hester carries Pearl, her daughter, in her arms at all times. On the scaffold, Hester is asked to reveal the name of Pearl’s father, but she refuses to release that information. Among the many spectators and ridiculers in the crowd, she recognizes her husband from Amsterdam, whose name was Roger Chillingworth. Once Hester is returned to prison, Roger Chillingworth visits her. Roger begins to explain to her that he will find out the man that was a part of her …show more content…
The two live in the cottage in relative solitude. Hester Prynne’s income is received through doing stitch work for local notables, but most of the time; she is assisting the poor and sick. As time goes on, and Pearl grows up, she becomes wild, and sometimes even refuses to obey Hester. Roger Chillingworth excels at being a physician, and uses his outstanding reputation to get into the same home as Arthur Dimmesdale, who is an ill minister. Chillingworth soon discovers that Dimmesdale is the father of Pear, and points, he would spend every minute torturing the minister. On one occasion, Dimmesdale goes up on the scaffold where Hester stood, and imagines her humiliation, shame, and the public declaration of having an “A” on his chest. Pearl and Hester arrive soon, and they ask him to stand with them. While standing on the scaffold, the three see Roger Chillingworth watching them. Dimmesdale admits that he is scared of Chillingworth, and Hester realizes that Chillingworth is slowly killing Dimmesdale, and she must help