This is one of the most seminal works in American Literature, but what I loved in it when I first read it as best I can recall (as a teen? young adult?) was that for me Hester Prynne is a heroine with a capital A. I was puzzled when in my recent read of Ahab's Wife Hawthorne was depicted as, well, puritanical and that critics consider the novel as patriarchal in its sentiments, because my memory of the novel was that Hawthorne's sympathies, even admiration, was with Hester.
On this recent read I see no reason to change my mind, and I still consider this a by and large extraordinary novel, even if I can see flaws. Among them the opening autobiographical "introductory sketch" of a first chapter, "The Custom-House" which seemed more an intrusive settling of political scores than a suitable frame for the story--even before reading that it was more or less intended as such by Hawthorne, who had just prior to writing the novel been fired from his position at the custom-house. And admittedly, there are melodramatic romantic touches I found a bit much. (A capital "A" in the sky? Really Hawthorne?)
Past that first chapter though, I immediately found myself gripped by the story and by Hester. It's not a long novel--about 88 thousand words, about 150 pages. We first meet Hester coming out of a prison door by which are roses that legend said bloomed at the feet of the martyred Ann Hutchinson, banished from the Puritans' Massachusetts Bay Colony for her heresies and her daring in preaching despite her female sex. Early on is mentioned that not far past is the Elizabethian Age in which a woman ruled. Hester comes out of that prison with a Scarlet "A" emblazoned on her bosom, and I can't help but admire that this is no small, demure "A" but one Hester herself elaborately embroidered with golden thread. She refuses to name the man that shares her sin even though it would mean she could take that letter off her dress rather than wear it the rest of her life. She names the child of that adultery Pearl after the "pearl of great price" and fights to keep her when the authorities are thinking of taking her child away. Hester stays true to herself throughout and never runs away.
So yes, I consider her a great literary heroine. Especially when I compare her to her sister "fallen women" in literature. Compared to Hester, Madame Bovary and Anna Karenina seem vain and shallow. And though Hardy's Tess obviously has the author's affection, she seems weak, a victim, compared to the strong, self-sufficient Hester Prynne. Characters such as her vengeful husband Roger Chillingworth and her fellow adulterer Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale (such perfect names!) serve to only throw into greater relief her strength, compassion and redemptive arc.
