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The Scarlet Letter · Character

Satan

The embodiment of evil, often invoked by townspeople and Mistress Hibbins.

minor

Also known as the Black Man, Black Man, Man, old Black Man, The Devil

First appearance: ii the marketplace

Satan's tie to Hester Prynne is one of the pressures that moves The Scarlet Letter—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Referenced as the Black Man in local superstition; said to haunt the forest and mark people's bosoms.
In the storyXVI: A Forest WalkOpen this moment free

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

With Hester Prynne (psychological): Satan represents the constant temptation and guilt that Hester struggles with internally. With Pearl (psychological): Pearl is often seen as an impish, almost demonic child, embodying…

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Satan sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Satan in ii the marketplace

Character Web

12 connections

A slice of how Satan sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

HPHester PrynnePEPearlRCRoger Chilling…ADArthur Dimmesd…JWJohn WilsonSASatan

Relationship types

  • Psychological

Character groups

  • Central moral conflict figures
  • Protagonist

+7 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

In this chapter, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Hester boldly articulates the escape plan to…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Satan in ii the marketplace

In the story

Satan appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Satan unlock in the free preview.

See Satan in ii the marketplace
Who is Satan in The Scarlet Letter?