TSL

"It was reported, and believed by many, that an Indian had drawn his arrow against the badge, and that the missile struck it, but fell harmless to the ground" (148).

So, now this scarlet letter is a lifesaver? Well, it was the punishment picked over death, so it is a life saver. However, these fickle Puritans do not know what the hell they want, and it is irksome. They want her dead, and now they praise her to strangers? Hester's transformation is evident. It has been a good one, and her life has improved drastically. The opposite is true for poor Dimmesdale, who is supposedly getting sicker and sicker.

"'What evil have I done this man?'" (154).

That's a pretty badass quote to come from a man who has been psychologically torturing another man for seven years. Roger has not done any outward evil towards Dimmesdale. If a judge were to be trying to convict Roger of torture, he would not be able to find concrete evidence that Roger had been willingly trying to hurt Dimmesdale. However, with his subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) words and conversation choice, Roger has tortured Dimmesdale more than a third party, outside of Hester, could ever realize.