Hester's pride is what sustains her through the years. From the beginning Hester tries to hide her shame by depicting the letter as a thing of beauty. She decorates and embroiders it until it becomes nothing more than a decorative symbol. "On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold threads, appeared the letter A...it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel she wore (pg. 57)." Hester still acknowledges her shame, when she, "In a moment, h

owever, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hid another, she took the baby on her arm, and, with a burning blush, and yet a haughty smile and a glance that would not be abashed, looked around at her townspeople and neighbors (pg. 110)." Hester's pride, however, allows her neither option. She stays in Boston, faces the punishment for her sin, and works to improve her life.

Through the courts of the novel, Hester proves herself able to keep numerous secrets. She refuses to reveal the name of Pearl's father even when questioned by the Reverend Wilson. She knows that if she does not name the father, her innocent daughter will forever be a mark of sin, but to Hester the promise she took upon Dimmesdale is too important to sacrifice. Hester also consents to hide the truth about Chillingworth's true identity. When he visits Hester in her cell and requests that she not re

Some common words found in the essay are:
Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Governor Bellingham, Reverend Wilson, Hester Prynne's, Prynne Hester, Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne's, hester prynne, scarlet letter, hester's pride, thy secret,
Approximate Word count = 609
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)