# Mistress Hibbins — The Scarlet Letter character guide

> Mistress Hibbins in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** old Mistress Hibbins

**First appearance:** 0009-vii-the-governor-s-hall

## Who they are

A sharp-tongued widow rumored to consort with the Black Man in the forest, she voices the town's darkest suspicions with a knowing, unsettling glee.

## In the story

### [VIII: The Elf-Child and the Minister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/viii-the-elf-child-and-the-minister)

Appears at a window to invite Hester to a witch meeting in the forest.

### [The Minister's Vigil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xii-the-minister-s-vigil)

Appears at her window, interpreting the shriek as witch activity, then vanishes.

### [XVI: A Forest Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xvi-a-forest-walk)

Mentioned by Pearl as one who met the Black Man.

### [The Minister in a Maze](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xx-the-minister-in-a-maze)

Encountered Dimmesdale in the street, alluding to a secret meeting in the forest and implying a pact with the devil.

### [XXII: The Procession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xxii-the-procession)

Approaches Hester in the marketplace, dressed magnificently, and whispers about Dimmesdale's forest encounter and the mark he hides, implying his bond with the Black Man.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters/mistress_hibbins
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/characters