I am an English born physician and recent immigrant to the New Land. I sent my wife, Hester Prynne, ahead of me so I could take care of lose ends at home. However, what was supposed to be a relatively easy move turned out to be quite an adventure and an ordeal in a very true sense. This is a story of my life from the time the savages took me, on my arrival in the new world; to the time I departed this wretched life of mine.
As I have already alluded to, I was greeted, more like captured, by the savages upon a botched journey to my wife in Boston. I lived with the savages for quite some time, around two years I recall, and in that time they schooled me in nature's medicine and therapies. After moving around from group to group being sold like property, I managed to make it to Boston where I was held in prison till my ransom was paid. Once I was a free man I guess I didn't know what to expect, but I certainly wasn't prepared for what happened next.
Escorted by my Indian companion we entered the public market place, where quite a gathering of citizens has congregated. As I looked upon the scaffold, where a poor wretch was carrying out her punishment by public shaming, I felt the tail of horror engulf my features like a snake about its victim. Much to my dismay I found Hester, my Hester standing on the scaffold of shame! I noticed that she saw me and in order to preserve my well-being I made a jester for her to keep quiet. Not fully knowing or understanding what was going on I asked a man beside me. He gave me the cold particulars of the terrible story and from then on I was determined to find out who the father to Hester's baby was. .
Over the course of many years I became apart of the Boston community. Under the guise of Roger Chillingworth, I became a well-respected physician and friend to many. The pastor of this small town, Arthur Dimmesdale, became very ill. I don't know what it was, but I had an itch about this man and I was determined to find out his secret.