The reader first meets the incredibly strong Hester on the scaffold with Pearl in her arms, beginning her punishment. On the scaffold, she displays a sense of irony and contempt. The irony is present in the elaborate needlework of the scarlet letter. There are “fantastic flourishes of gold-thread,” and the letter is ornately decorative, significantly beyond the colony’s laws that call for somber, unadorned attire. The first description of Hester notes her “natural dignity and force of character” and mentions specifically the haughty smile and strong glance that reveal no self-consciousness of her plight. While she might be feeling agony as if “her heart had been flung into the street for them all to spurn and trample upon,” her face reveals no such thought, and her demeanor is described as “haughty.” She displays a dignity and grace that reveals a deep trust in herself.
In this first scene, Dimmesdale implores her to name the father of the baby and her penance may be lightened. Hester says “Never!” When asked again, she says “I will not speak!” While this declaration relieves Dimmesdale and he praises her under his breath, it also shows Hester’s determination to stand alone despite the opinion of society. Hester’s self-reliance and inner strength are further revealed in her defiance of the law and in her iron will during her confrontation with the governor of the colony.
