Hester Prynne, a beautiful woman, stands upon a crowd in the marketplace of a small 17th century Puritan town in Massachusetts. She wears a red letter "A" on her bosom as punishment for committing adultery, and as a reminder to the townspeople of the consequences of their sins. As she stands before the crowd, she sees whom she believes to be her husband, who she thought had died. Later on, her suspicions are realized as her husband, now calling himself Roger Chillingworth, visits her in the prison and declares that he intends to seek revenge on the man with whom she conceived a child named Pearl.
             After she is released from prison, Hester works as a seamstress in her small cabin on the border of town and the forest, as her child, Pearl, grows into a passionate but troublesome girl. The townspeople wonder if Hester is able to raise the child and the governor attempts to take Pearl away from her. The kind Reverend Dimmesdale protests against this extreme action, explaining that Pearl is a blessing to Hester as well as a reminder of her sin and Pearl remains in her mother's care. This kind act is perhaps something more than that.
             One night, Hester and Pearl discover Reverend Dimmesdale standing atop the crowd attempting to punish himself for his sin. The reader's suspicions of Dimmesdale's involvement with Hester is finally confirmed. They join him, standing together as a meteor marks an "A" in the dark sky. One day, upon meeting in the forest, Hester and Dimmesdale come up with a plan to leave America on the day after Election Day, to escape their sin and to escape Chillingworth, as he has discovered their secret. Election Day at last comes, and Dimmesdale gives an electrifying sermon to the people of his town. During this sermon, Hester learns that Chillingworth has also booked a spot on the boat leaving America. When he is finished with his speech, Dimmesdale calls for Hester and Pearl and together at last, he confesses his
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