Hester Prynne. The face of beauty, sin and inner strength. He wears an "A" on his chest and holds another symbol of his sin in his arms. Hester Prynne made a mistake that caused the townspeople to rail. The townspeople make rude comments about Hester and the beautifully embroidered “A.” She stood on a scaffold, pearl in hand, and allowed her peers to judge her. She didn't react to any of the mean comments or looks. Her husband and her lover keep their identities hidden from society while she takes the blame for the crime. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter, he illustrates to readers how strong Hester's character is, revealed through her public humiliation, and her lover's actions towards her. Hawthorne presents Hester as the face of adultery. Readers don't know Sin's full story, so they assume she is who they say she is. (Citizens quote) Hester presents herself with confidence and a poker face like her. He falls in love with Hester for her striking beauty and, too, wants to keep her identity a secret from his peers. He feels guilty when he sees Hester standing on the scaffold, but he doesn't stay there with her. He should have been a man and admitted to the crime like Hester did. After a while, Dimmesdale's guilt undermines his health. Dimmesdale becomes ill due to the medical services provided by Chillingworth. Chillingworth knows that Dimmesdale is Hester's lover and will get the revenge he desires. Dimmesdale is oblivious to Chillingworth's "kindness" and his health rapidly deteriorates. One night, Dimmesdale finds himself on the scaffold as if he were about to shout to the world that he was Hester's partner. (quote about when he was on the gallows). This was the time to admit his sin so that the guilt would subside. Hawthorne is showing how weak Dimmesdale is as a person and that Hester does not deserve someone as weak as him.