"Don't judge a book by its cover." Everyone knows this hackneyed quote, but people still judge others based on their outward appearance. In doing so, these people ignore the possible inner greatness of those they so quickly cast aside. The character Hester Prynne from Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter is a victim of such judgment and proves the quote to be valid advice. Hester's actions and appearance substantiate the theme of appearance versus reality throughout the novel. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Early in the book, although Hester may give the appearance of a boastful rebel, she is actually very distressed by her miserable situation. . For example, when Hester ascends the scaffold and the crowd sees her beautifully sewn and gold-embroidered letter, one of the Puritan women comments: "She's very good with her needle, that's for sure... but never had a woman, before this, ever been able to do it. cheeky, invent such a way to show it! Well, gossips, what is laughing in the faces of our pious magistrates..." (45). By accentuating the letter with beautiful decoration, Hester reinforces the facade that she is proud of her crime. A woman very ashamed will not take the time to contemplate her condition to make herself look good, which is why the crowd thinks that Hester is blasphemous and indifferent. She is incapable of giving in to the pressure of society and showing that she is hurt. by her dilemma, at least in public Hester's actions show that she believes that her adultery was an act of love and passion and that she does not deserve punishment. However, Hester's courage on the. The scaffold is an illusion Her true feelings wait to surface until she is out of sight of the prying eyes of the community: “After her return to prison, Hester Prynne was found to be in a state of excitement. nervous which required constant vigilance, lest she commit violence against herself, or do half-frantic harm to the poor baby” (59). Pretending to be irreverent in public, Hester hides her true torment until she is safely alone. Over the years, Hester's repressing her real feelings breeds notions of "sin" in her thoughts. However, she hides these thoughts by performing acts of kindness within her community. Hawthorne describes Hester's position in society thus: "It was also perceived that although Hester never proposed the humblest title of sharing in the privileges of the world, beyond that of breathing the common air and to earn daily bread for little Pearl and herself by the faithful labor of her hands...None [was] so ready as she to give of her little substance to every demand of poverty” (140). These kind acts allow people to see that Hester is not really the sinner they thought, but a selfless Good Samaritan who does her best to make life better for the people around her. She gives what little she can. She possesses all who can benefit from it, leading a more charitable life than some of the more pious people around her. However, Hester continues to wonder if "existence is worth accepting." .. The whole social system must be accepted to be torn down and rebuilt again... before women can be allowed to assume what seems to be a right and proper position” (144). Hester thinks thoughts that no God-fearing woman in her community would ever imagine. Because Hester's thoughts break the law of her town and that of the Bible, they seem evil and.