Why Not Leave Boston?

Upon the city's discovery of her adultery, Hester Prynne is sentenced to three hours of humiliation in the town square, and a lifetime of it with the Bostonian people. While reading the story, I couldn't stop wondering why Hester didn't just leave — I certainly would have wanted to. She doesn't have many true friends or family ties besides Pearl; Chillingworth is cruel throughout and Dimmesdale only shows his loyalty to Pearl and Hester after many years. Hester's dress-making ability would have enabled her to provide for herself anywhere. 

Hester's decision not to leave Boston speaks to her courage and integrity as a character. Her willingness to accept her punishment shows repentance, even though she knows she could not have been happy with Chillingworth. She could have decided only to wear the "A" in public and go without it at home, but does not; Pearl cannot even recognize her mother without it. Hester also redeems herself so much that townspeople begin to see the "A" as standing for "able". Through the brave choice to face her punishment, Hester proves herself a (rare) 17th century, female hero.