The Scarlet Letter Forum

On what basis was Hester convicted of adultery? 

I thought they DID know Hester was married. 

Perhaps if she were single she would not have been allowed to travel alone to the New World or to live alone in the village--?

I agree that they knew that Hester was married.  Otherwise, how the adultery conviction?  I'm wondering, then, why they (her accusers) are not aware that Roger Chillingworth is her husband.  How did they successfully prosecute her without knowing who her husband is?  Who ratted on her?

well obviously chillingworth found out abou the pregnacy. in the puritan era...long time ago the husband and wife are supposed to have intercourse one every 3 months and during those months chillingworth found out that hester was pregnant. So chillingworth knew that he didn't do "it" with hester to get here pregnant so there had to be another person.....does that make sense??

Hester's husband was thought to be in in Amsterdam where he was looking after necessary affairs; however, he was taken hostage by native American Indians while traveling to Massachusetts to join his wife. Because she had a child and her husband was gone for about 2 years, it was clear she had committed adultery. See Chapter III The Recognition

**They knew of the husband. It is obviously stated when the stranger in the beginning of the novel is questioned by Roger Chillingsworth in disguise.....Roger asks the man what she did and responds she cheated and was impregnated by someone other than her husband whom she had been away from for 2 years plus.                                                                                                      **And to answer another persons question....they knew of the adultery because she was pregnant and her husband was no where to be found.
**And yet another question.....They didnt know her husband was there, he was in disguise remember.
~If you dont understand read the outline and 90% of your questions will be answered~

In the 1700's you didn't have to even be married to commit adultery. They went strictly off Puritan beliefs. They felt that if you have any sort of sexual relations with someone that you were not married to it was considered adultery.

i dont think you guys really read the book..