In her public and private suffering, represented by the scarlet letter in her life, she remains a pillar of strength. Hester's selflessness also reflected in the services that she renders to the poor, needy and the sick. Her goodhearted way of living reflects her devotion to those underprivileged. She transforms into a sexless person; coving her hair and wears dull and sober clothes without any embellishment or appeal. Only when she takes off the "A" "her sex, her youth, and the whole richness of her beauty came back"(191). By freezing her world into a small circle containing only Pearl and herself, she shields the two of them from the scorn of an upright and cold society. Through her life of suffering, she emerges a stronger person, a "with a woman's strength" better able to handle life's painful moments (150). Hester's strength of character in public her way of steeling herself against her inner wounds inflicted by her reputation and plague by the scarlet letter. Her weakness revealed in her private vent of her grief through tears. Her silent suffering eventually wins the sympathy of others but still fails to gain her complete acceptance by the Puritan society that surrounds her.
Committing adultery with Hester was Dimmesdale sin, it more and internal rather than external. His own weakness and lack of courage, he fails to confess and suffers constantly. He continually places his hand over his heart, covering the scarlet letter that permanently engraved there. To punish himself for his sin, he would use a "scourge" on himself "laughing bitterly" as he would do so (135). Fast, "not the purify [of his] body," but to "rigorously until his knees" would give out. He would keep "vigils" "night after night", torturing himself for the sin he committed. He never confesses but mildly attempted to do so several times. When he gathers strength to hint that he a sinner, he does it so indirectly that his confession considered a sign of his humility, his congregation with "deep awe and wonder" still loves and praises him more (241).
