Trapped in a society ahead of her time, Hester Prynne is wrapped in shame for one mistake for the rest of her life. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter Hester's passionate nature conflicts with the puritan community. Hester had a baby when her husband was away so the town knew she had committed adultery condemning her to wear a scarlet A for the rest of her life. Born in the seventeenth century when conservative Christian religion permeated throughout the original colonies, Hester was trapped by the regulations of society. The Puritans philosophy of social order and the covenant constrict Hester into a society of rules and regulations.

Living in a strict society where men were superior to women hindered Hester's way of life. First she was forced to marry a man, Roger Chillingworth, whom she didn't love. Hester says ."..thou knowest I was frank with the. I...