Hester Prynne

Who is Hester Prynne? That infamous wearer of the scarlet letter from Hathorne's work - "The Scarlet Letter." I am reading the novel, because I must teach the novel, but still, it is a great piece of fiction, as long as you skip the introduction (very very boring). Anyway, Hester was sent by her husband to the New World and he promised to follow, but for two years he never showed up. Then, Hester became pregnant, making the puritan leaders label her an adulterer, for which crime she must wear the scarlet A on her breast. Usually, the punishment for such a sinner is death, but, since no one knows where Hester's husband is, she is charged with a 'lesser' punishment. In the novel, Hathorne writes that man had marked Hester's sin on her breast, so everyone could see it and no one would offer her sympathy.

The amazing element of this situation is that these are Christians - by their name, the pure kind as well. Because she has been so branded, Hester considers herself worthless, unable to be fully forgiven, basically a demon. Poor Hester.

It makes me appreciative of the Christian society I live in today, one in which preachers focus on the forgiveness in the blood of Jesus over the threat of hell-fire. I believe we all should recognize hell as a true possibility, not a place of fiction, but we should also understand and rejoice in what Jesus has done for us. Many people are still under the impression that they are too damaged, that there is no possible way they could walk on streets of gold in heaven. But in thinking so, they deny God his glory. As one preacher said, "Who do you think you are?" Jesus didn't make a small sacrifice. Nor did he write down the names of just the few he was sacrificing his life for. 1 John 1:9 states: "“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Ephesians 1:7 says: "“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”


Hester probably knew this, but she was faced with her guilt everyday. Her neighbors continued to throw her dirty looks, put her down in church, and even try to take her child from her. Hester couldn't forgive herself, nor could her puritan community. Forgiveness must happen between people and within a person's own heart as well. Forgiving yourself can be tough, but guilt is also unproductive. Instead, a person must learn from their mistakes, confess, accept forgiveness, and attempt to do better in the future.

And for Hester, Isiah 1:18 states: “Come now and let us reason together,” says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” 


Rip that scarlet letter off, Hester Prynne, you have been forgiven. (I know she is fictional. I am not crazy : )