"Don't judge a book by its cover." Everyone knows this corny quote, but people still judge others based on outward appearance. In doing so, these people ignore the possible inner greatness of those they have so quickly cast aside. The character Hester Prynne from Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter is a victim of such judgment and demonstrates that the quote is sound advice. Hester's actions and appearance confirm the theme of appearance versus reality throughout the novel. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay At the beginning of the book, although Hester may give the impression of being a vainglorious rebel, she is actually quite anguished over her miserable circumstances. For example, when Hester ascends the scaffold and the crowd sees her beautifully stitched and gold-embroidered letter, one of the Puritan women comments, “She has good needlework, that's certain…but she never made a woman, before this." you shameless slut, devise such a way of showing it! Well, gossips, what is it but to laugh in the face of our pious magistrates..." (45). By accenting the letter with beautiful decorations, Hester reinforces the façade of being proud of her crime. A woman with much shame will not take time from contemplating her state to appear pretty, so the crowd thinks Hester is blasphemous and uncaring. She is incapable of giving in to society's pressure and showing that she is somehow hurt by her dilemma, at least in public show that she feels that her adultery was an act of love and passion and that she does not deserve punishment. However, Hester's courage on the scaffold is an illusion. Her true feelings wait to emerge until she is out of the prying eyes of the community : "After her return to prison, Hester Prynne found herself in a state of nervous excitement which required constant vigilance, lest she perpetrate violence on herself, or do some half-frantic mischief to the poor child" (59). By pretending to be disrespectful in public, Hester hides her true torment until she is safe and alone. As the years pass, Hester suppresses her real feelings and generates "sinful" notions in her thoughts. He hides these thoughts, however, by performing acts of benevolence throughout his community. Hawthorne describes Hester's position in society this way: "It was perceived, moreover, that while Hester never advanced even the humblest title to share the privileges of the world, - beyond that of breathing the common air, and earning the daily bread for little Pearl and herself with the faithful work of her hands... None [was] so ready as she to give her little substance to every need of poverty” (140). 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 the little she has to anyone who can benefit from it, living a more charitable life than to some of the more pious people around her However, Hester continues to wonder whether "existence is worth accepting... The whole system of society must be torn down and rebuilt again... before that." women be allowed to assume what appears to be a just and appropriate position" (144). Hester ponders thoughts that no God-fearing woman in her community would have ever imagined. Because Hester's thoughts break the law of her town and that of the Bible, they appear wicked and blasphemous. He can only conceive of progressive and feminist ideals because of his sin. To a certain extent.