Question

There are two pictures of Hester in Chapter 13. In one she is described as having “blameless purity,” being “warm and rich; a well-spring of human tenderness…a Sister of Mercy…Such helpfulness was found in her,--so much power to do, and power to sympathize,--…so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength.” In the other she is described as “marble coldness”: “All the light and graceful foliage of her character had been withered up by the red-hot brand, and long ago fallen away, leaving a bare and harsh outline, which might have been repulsive…Some attribute had departed from her, the permanence of which had been essential to keep her a woman.” How do you reconcile these two contradictory descriptions? Explain.

Answer 1

These contradictory descriptions can be reconciled because they capture both sides of what Hester has become because of her experiences. She is seen as pure, warm, and tender, because she has turned her life around. She is pleased to have her daughter, she helps others in the community, and people have begun to see her as a better person. 

She is also seen as cold, because she has to carry the burden of holding a secret (the identity of her husband), and cannot be with the man she wants to be with.