The story is set in 17th century Boston. In the 17th century, Boston was a Puritan settlement. A young woman named Hester Prynne is being led from the town prison with her infant daughter, Pearl, in her arms. Hester has a scarlet “A” on her breast. That “A” on her breast means that she has committed adultery, that or which, she is being punished for. Hester’s husband, who calls himself Roger Chillingworth, was presumed to be lost at sea at the beginning of the book, but he is in Boston now practicing medicine. He settled in Boston with the intent to get revenge on his wife. She had an affair, although she has hidden her lover’s identity, the people knew about it because she gave birth to a child. Several years later Hester is supporting herself