In a small, strict Puritan community in New England during the 17th century, a young woman named Hester Prynne lives in the shadow of her own secret. After having a child out of wedlock, her life takes a drastic turn when she becomes the target of scorn and condemnation from her fellow townspeople. Hester, with a rebellious and independent spirit, refuses to reveal the identity of her daughter's father, intensifying the tension in her already complicated life.