The Scarlett Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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THE SCARLET LETTERBy: Nathaniel HawthorneMain Characters:HESTER PRYNNE: The books protagonist. She is a beautiful, young, married woman who's husband, Roger Chillingworth, has sent her to live in a Puritan colony in America from Great Britain. Chillingworth is supposed to catch up with her later, but never follows. While Hester is alone in the colony, she has an affair with Arthur Dimmsdale and bears a child, so she therefore must wear a scarlet "A" on her chest as a symbol of her being an adulterer.

REVERAND ARTHUR DIMMSDALE: He is the unmarried pastor of the Puritan colony that Hester lives in. He and Hester become lovers and although he will never admit it, he is the father of Hester's bastard daughter, Pearl. He feels guilty for not admitting his sin, and tortures himself psychologically and physically by beating himself, and he soon develops a heart condition. He is a very attractive bachelor in his colony, but refuses to marry because of his and Hester's "secret".

PEARL: Pearl is Hester's bastard daughter and Dimmsdale's illegitimate child. She is an "impish" young girl, but seems to have the ability to recognize certain things that others do not. For example, although we never know for sure, Pearl shows signs that she know Dimmsdale is her father, although no one has ever told her. The townspeople spread rumors about her because of her evil behavior, declaring that her unknown father is actually the devil. She is smart for her age.

ROGER CHILLINGWORTH: "Chillingworth" is actually Hester's husband in disguise. He sent Hester to live in America years ago while he finished up a few business affairs in Europe, but was supposed to follow her quickly. Unfortunately, he was captured and arrived in America to find Hester and her "illegitimate child" displayed on the scaffold.