Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast,—at her, the child of honorable parents,—at her, the mother of a babe, that would hereafter be a woman, —at her, who had once been innocent, —as the figure, the body, the reality of sin. (Hawthorne 62) …show more content…
The scarlet letter in many ways led Hester to empower herself, Hester raises her own money sewing for the town, learns to become independent, and endures her shame, all while raising her daughter, Pearl, whom she had to fight to keep from the clergy when she was viewed as an unfit mother because of her sin. Hester even becomes like a hero to the women in her town, years after she moves away. Hester’s courage and love for her family encouraged her to will through her punishment and emerge as a better