Hester Prynne is considered one of the first feminist heroines and icons of American literature. This is despite the fact that Nathaniel Hawthorne, born July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, was labeled a misogynist, threatened by the growing feminist movement. The way Hawthorne portrays his female protagonist and her interactions with the overbearing society around her proves that Hester Prynne is actually the female heroine of "The Scarlet Letter". Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay A romantic heroine is defined as a person who chooses not to conform to society's flaws, but rather rises above them. The common traits of romantic heroes are isolation and regret for one's actions. A heroine is a woman of great courage or skill, who possesses good judgment and good morals. Both descriptions apply to Hester Prynne. Although Hester is beautiful, who is described as shining behind her as if to create a “halo of doom,” her beauty barely compares to her strength of character. We first meet the incredibly strong Hester on the scaffold with Pearl in her arms, beginning her punishment. The first description of Pearl emphasizes her “natural dignity and strength of character.” Although he felt as if “his heart had been thrown into the street to be despised and trampled upon,” his face did not reveal his thoughts and his behavior is described as “haughty.” Even though she has just been released from prison, her actions are described as being of her own free will. Hester also bears her punishment and judgment alone. She does not succumb to the pressure to reveal Dimmesdale as the father and when told to "speak the name of your fellow sinner", she refuses. Her loyalty and love for Dimmesdale are admirable. Hester also shows emotional strength by staying in Boston and facing humiliation rather than running away. She remains even if she is "alone, on the sidelines, a living criticism of society". Hester is a devoted mother, even though she knows that her daughter will be at a disadvantage due to her father's absence. She calls her daughter Pearl because she was “bought dearly with all she had, her mother's only treasure.” Hester calls her Pearl to associate purity and innocence with her rather than sin. Hester fought the authorities who tried to take her son away and provided for herself and her Pearl. The mere fact that Hester is able to raise her son while his punishment is underway demonstrates her determination. Rather than seeing Pearl as a representation of her sin or the Scarlet Letter in another form, Hester chooses to see Pearl as a gift from God, the only companionship and connection to humanity she will have now that she has been ostracized. Despite being publicly humiliated by the Puritans, Hester remains kind and humble. Because she is shunned by her community, she has no friends or obligations. Her time is divided between solitude or helping the needy, like the governor she sat with as he died, and her charity work. She does good deeds even though the people she helps don't show her the same generosity in return. Through her pious actions, Hester transformed the A into a symbol of her goodwill, eliminating the shame it was supposed to represent. Rather than meaning “adulterer,” the scarlet letter represented “angel” or “skillful.” Furthermore, Hester does not dress luxuriously even though she had the ability to make beautifully embroidered dresses and hides her beauty by wearing typical Puritan clothing. In chapter five, “Hester at Her Needle,” the reader discovers that.