Hawthornes Hester Prynne had it easy just wearing a scarlet A compared to Hillary Jordans Hannah Payne who is scarlet following her conviction for murdering her unborn child the product of her adulterous affair with superstar pastor Aidan Dale in a not-too distant future when the line between church and state has faded. Raised to unquestionably follow the churchs teachings, Hannahs life as an outcast brings her new understanding of the world and of her own strengths.