Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter


               Chapter 13
   
         Hester believes she needs to aid
      Dimmesdale because she caused the
      harm and pain in him.
         Other beliefs and changes took place
      in her. She helped many people in the
      colony by bringing food or making
      clothes; she fought against poverty.
         Many people of the colony realized
      the change and said the *A* stood for
      Able.  It was said to have given her
      protection when an arrow struck
      because it did no harm.  However,
      rulers and wise and learned men were
      slow to acknowledge Hester’s change.
         In her, passion and feeling were
      replaced by thought.  With thought
      came questions of Pearl’s existence and
      the role of women in society.
         Ultimately, she decided to confront
      the physician and do what she could to
      stop him from influencing Dimmesdale.
Hester goes to homes to help the
people but only during the night.