Role Of Sin And Suffering In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

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The Scarlet Letter Arguement According to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the author argues that sin and suffering exists even in a utopian society. To illustrate, Hester prynne commits the sin of adultery. According to the Old Testament, adultery was understood as sexual relations between a married (or betrothed) woman and a man other than her husband. It was therefore a sin against the husband. The townspeople know Hester has committed adultery when she has a baby even though her husband has been away for two years. As a result, Hester suffers at the hands of the townspeople. For example the townspeople make Hester and the newborn to stay in jail. They made Hester stand on a scaffold for hours. The council made her live on the