ce. Hester is an innocent victim through her crime with Arthur Dimmesdale. It
             was a crime of love and therefore Hester is punished for an innocent crime. She is also
             innocent because she is robbed of her youth at a young age by Roger Chillingworth. By
             marrying her at a young age he makes her an innocent victim. " I pity thee, for the good
             that has been wasted in thy nature!" (159). Hester's character symbolizes innocence
             throughout the whole novel and justifies her position in society. Hester's final symbol of
             her character is punishment. Hester is a symbol to her society of what happens when you
             are punished for a crime. She must wear her punishment on her chest through the scarlet
             letter. "Not a stitch in that embroidered letter, but has felt it in her heart" (51). She must
             endure this punishment for most of her life and it eventually grows on her. She
             symbolizes punishment throughout the entire novel. Hester Prynne is the main character
             of the novel and she symbolizes many things in her society. Arthur Dimmesdale
             ...