Hypocrisy In A Puritan Society

410 Words2 Pages
Hypocrisy in a Puritan Society The novel The Scarlet Letter proves that hypocrisy is a sin. It has been argued whether Hawthorne’s theme was adultery or hypocrisy. The motive of falsity is emphasized in the novel over what seems to be the keynote, adultery. There are many precedents of deception and deceit in this scholarly publication. Furthermore, there is no debate that hypocrisy is a main subject of this novel. A primary archetype of hypocrisy in the novel is Roger Chillingworth. He acts like he is Dimmesdale’s physician but in reality, he is seeking revenge on him. Chillingworth seems to be an intellectual man of reason, however revenge is the driving force of his life. Chillingworth is an all around symbol of hypocrisy. Arthur