Scarlet Letter Allurement Of Sin

According to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s enticing novel, The Scarlet Letter, the author argues that the allurement of sin and suffering exists even in a utopian society.

To illustrate, Hester Prynne commits the appalling sin of adultery, violating all moral aspects of her Puritan town. According to the Old Testament in the Bible, adultery is understood to be the sexual relations between a married or betrothed woman and a man other than her husband. Adultery is, therefore, a sin against the husband (Christian Reference Bible Site). In a small, usually quiet Bible-revering village, a scandal such as Hester’s quickly attracts attention. The townspeople immediately know Hester has sinned because she has a baby while her husband has been away for two

They do not attempt to embrace and help her transition back into society. Instead, the townsfolk agonize and wrongly judge Hester Prynne. Mark 7:1 in the Bible states, “Judge not, that you be not judged,” yet the Puritan society that Hester lives in does so anyway, committing their own particular sins. Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s previous husband, lies about his true name, who he really is, his profession, and forces Hester to keep his lie a secret. One cannot image the distress Hester goes through seeing Chillingworth threaten and hurt those around her while she is unable to do anything. Dimmsdale betrays Hester and does not confess to his own sin; he is afraid to take responsibility for his role in the affair. The alleged virtuous women of the town publicly stigmatize and shame Hester. The town council leaves Hester no other choice than to live secluded from society and deprived of social interaction. The public, at first, refuses to grant a job to such a dishonorable woman. However, the townspeople’s actions go further than simply punishing Hester for her sin. They are jealous of Hester Prynne; her beauty, garments, and talents in needlework incite envy in the hearts of the common women. When Hester emerges from the prison, her radiance astounds all the unsophisticated women; Hester, despite having given birth to a beautiful, healthy baby, looks slim and refined: “And never had

The Bible teaches to love each other despite one’s faults or imperfections, yet the townsfolk continue to insinuate hate towards Hester. The Bible proclaims, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15). The townspeople are not willing to forget Hester Prynne’s sin and persist in tormenting her. The Puritan children throw rocks at Hester while the parents stand by. The townsfolk refuse shelter and care to the needy. The adult Christians judge Hester for what she has done but do not stop to consider their own merciless acts. The townspeople’s actions do not follow Christian-law in loving one another: “We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:19-21). The harsh treatment effects Hester and her baby harshly. The baby will live in a world without a father and surrounded by hate. Pearl does not know what it is to feel loved and accepted by others in