When Hester Prynne was released from jail, her husband Chillingworth was already in town. If the township found out that her husband was in town she would be even further detested by all. They would scorn her because during those times Puritan’s believed that a husband was always a husband no matter what. For her situation even though her husband was gone so long they were still married and should have continued their relationship. Her husband had been absent so long that she thought he didn’t love her anymore, which drove her to fall in love with Dimmesdale and commit adultery.
Elizabeth Proctor believed in the Puritan way and was considered one of the most prominent religious persons in Salem. Her husband committed adultery with one of the slave girls Abigail, which forced Elizabeth to cast her out of the house. Back in Puritan days a couple was not allowed to divorce. “Divorce was frowned upon during this time, so displeasured husbands (or wives) looked to other means to be rid of their betrothed.”(http://oncampus.richmond.edu/) such as being condemned as a witch. Elizabeth still loved her husband, and stood behind him when he was condemned as a witch. She just wanted to maintain her relationship with her husband.
When Hester Prynne was released from jail for committing adultery, many people asked her who she had an affair with. She did not want to jeopardize the person’s future by condemning them so she never told. During these Puritan times women were considered to be dependent on the husband. Hester was self-determining to her environment. She wanted to keep peace, never saying too much and never saying too little. She knew her place in society.
Elizabeth’s Husband had an affair with one of their slaves Abigail Williams, which caused her to have to throw her out of their house. When Elizabeth Proctor’s husband tried to tell the courts that the witch trials were all a hoax, he admitted that he had an affair with Abigail. If his wife would testify that he did have an affair, then the testimony would be proof that the witch trials were all a hoax. When Elizabeth was brought into court they asked her why she threw Abigail William out of the house. She lied and said because she was not pleased. The only reason why she lied was because she knew during this time a woman should keep her place. Usually if a woman told her husbands business it brought reproving to his character and the whole family. So if she told the truth about the relationship it wouldn’t just signify a cast down of her husband but a demoralizing of the whole family.
Hester Prynne and Elizabeth both sinned, the sins that they committed were not greater than each other. In many religions sins are equal just the consequences in the world are not, for example in religion lying and murder are the same thing, but the consequence for murder is going to jail compared to the consequence than lying which might be a slap on the hand. Hester and Elizabeth were different though because there motivations were different at times. For Hester she began to realize what she did wrong and tried to improve her way of life. She began to help people. She started sewing, many asked her to sew dresses and cloth for their homes. She stopped being ostracized and became apart of the community again. On the other hand Elizabeth’s story was different; she didn’t have to deal with having to regain her place in society. She had to try to make it on her own, now that her husband would be hanged. She would be a single mother raising three children.
One of Hester’s characteristics was that she was loyal to the man she had an affair with. She never once told anyone who he was not even her husband. Her husband had to find out himself. Being loyal is defined as faithful to ones ideals and morals. Hester was loyal because she took into consideration that the morals and ideals of the person she had an affair with would be ruined, and that also her morals and ideals would be considered absurd by all.
Elizabeth was loyal to her husband too. Even in court she didn’t want to tell that he was an adulterer. She believed that the relationship between her and her husband could be worked out. She stood by her husband at the end of The Crucible when he said he was not going to condemn others. She was definitely faithful to her husband’s ideals and morals, never telling a soul what he did.
Both characters Hester of The Scarlet Letter and Elizabeth of The Crucible had many things in common including their loyalty towards others and their motivations to better themselves in their environments.
The organization of both books went from lighthearted to determination and finally to fulfillment and achievements. In the beginning of both books the environment was lighthearted. In The Scarlet Letter, they were scorning Hester for being adulterous. In The Crucible the town blamed everyone about being a witch. They pick up anyone who was mentioned in court. Then both books moved to determination. Hester began to want to better herself in society, so she started helping others by sewing. Elizabeth’s determination was shown when she was condemned as a witch. In that scene everyone was yelling but she stayed calm and she quieted everyone down. She knew she was not a witch so she was determined that she was not going to be killed. Then the organization turned into fulfillment and achievement. Hester was then accepted in society again and many realized that sins should not be damned upon. Elizabeth did not die because she was pregnant. She achieved her determination not to die.
