The Scarlet Letter

In 17thcentury Salem Hester Prynne must wear a scarlet A because she is an adulteress with a child out of wedlock For seven years she has refused to name the father A vigorous older stranger arrives recognized by Hester but unknown to others as her missing husband He poses as Chillingworth a doctor watching Hester and searching out the identity of her lover His eye soon rests on Dimmesdale a young overwrought pastor Enmity grows between the two men Chillingworth applies psychological pressure and the pastor begins to crack A ship stops in Salem and Hester sees it as a providential refuge for her daughter herself and her lover But will Dimmesdale flee with her