Hester Prynne (character in "The Scarlet Letter")

Hester Prynne is the main character in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlet Letter." Set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts, she is a young woman who bears an illegitimate child, Pearl, after an affair. As punishment, she is publicly shamed and forced to wear a scarlet letter "A" for adultery. Hester is depicted as strong, resilient, and compassionate, grappling with her identity and societal judgment. Throughout the story, she evolves from shame to empowerment, challenging the strict moral codes of her community while ultimately seeking redemption for herself and her daughter.