The choices people are forced to make will not only affect themselves, but could also seriously affect those close to them. Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter shows the effects of the choices people make and how they can also affect those around you. Hester Prynne, the protagonist of The Scarlet Letter, is considered by many to be a tragic hero; however, Hester herself is guilty of causing her own downfall, as well as that of Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester's life was forever changed after the choice she made to break one of the fundamental laws of Puritan society. At this time, there was no separation between church and state in early Puritan society; breaking God's law was also breaking state law. The law is stated in Exodus 20:14: “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” is the fundamental law that Hester violates. and the adulteress shall be put to death,” was not instituted due to the fact that Hester had become pregnant as a result of her adulterous affair. Her punishment was therefore changed to a scarlet letter "A" which she must wear for the rest of her life. life and also stand on a scaffold in front of the city for three hours a day. This is the beginning of Hester's downfall. Instead of being put to death, she must live her life in shame and raise a child conceived because of sin. On the first day of her punishment, she began a life of secrecy by not disclosing the father's name to anyone, not even the father himself. “Do not be silent about all mistaken pity and tenderness for him. I, Hester, even if he should take a step... middle of paper... Roger Chillingworth, becomes a leech to Dimmesdale. Psychologically torturing Dimmesdale over his guilt, Chillingworth attacks Dimmesdale's mind, making him believe that there is no way to escape his sin. After the psychological torture, Dimmesdale reaches his lowest point, engulfed by his sin with no possibility of escape. Hester's actions and those of her husband bring about Dimmesdale's downfall and the only way for Dimmesdale to escape his suffering is death. People don't live as the end of themselves. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester and Dimmesdale's choice to have an adulterous affair proves to have considerable negative effects on their lives. Hester's life went from being a normal Puritan woman to being ostracized and raising a child in vain. The effects of this on Dimmesdale left him with unbearable shame at not being able to live in peace until his confession..