TSL Chapter 2- Publicly Shamed!

Chapter 2 of 'The Scarlet Letter' introduces a young woman named Hester Prynne. Hester emerges from the iron studded prison doors into a crowd of harsh, jeering people. Hester has a baby in her arm. The line ""Mercy on us, goodwife," is there no virtue in woman," leads me to believe that Hester has had an affair and has born an illegitimate child. This was seen as an unforgivable sin in those days, and this would be a logical reason for she was being humiliated. When the beadle called upon Hester, she visualizes her early life in her mind.She remembered marrying and older man, and following him to Europe. The image of her marriage is a clear-cut symbol in this chapter. This shows us that for some reason they have separated, and she is now undergoing sever humiliation for committing adultery.