Червона літера

           Standingaloneintheworld—alone,astoanydependenceonsociety,andwithlittlePearltobeguidedandprotected—alone,andhopelessofretrievingherposition,evenhadshenotscornedtoconsideritdesirable—shecastawaythefragmentabrokenchain.Theworld’slawwasnolawforhermind.Itwasanageinwhichthehumanintellect,newlyemancipated,hadtakenamoreactiveandawiderrangethanformanycenturiesbefore.Menoftheswordhadoverthrownnoblesandkings.Menbolderthanthesehadoverthrownandrearranged—notactually,butwithinthesphereoftheory,whichwastheirmostrealabode—thewholesystemofancientprejudice,wherewithwaslinkedmuchofancientprinciple.HesterPrynneimbibedthisspirit.Sheassumedafreedomofspeculation,thencommonenoughontheothersideoftheAtlantic,butwhichourforefathers,hadtheyknownit,wouldhaveheldtobeadeadliercrimethanthatstigmatisedbythescarletletter.Inherlonesomecottage,bytheseashore,thoughtsvisitedhersuchasdaredtoenternootherdwellinginNewEngland;shadowyguests,thatwouldhavebeenasperilousasdemonstotheirentertainer,couldtheyhavebeenseensomuchasknockingatherdoor.

           Itisremarkablethatpersonswhospeculatethemostboldlyoftenconformwiththemostperfectquietudetotheexternalregulationsofsociety.Thethoughtsufficesthem,withoutinvestingitselfinthefleshandbloodofaction.SoitseemedtobewithHester.