Similarities Between The Crucible And The Scarlet Letter

In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, and in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, there exists a common theme of adultery, a sin according to the commandments of the Puritan church. The stories center around the adulterers- John Proctor in The Crucible, and Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter. Both are members of early Puritan communities that are known for their very devout faith. Each character shows different reactions and feelings towards the sin, and each must face different consequences. A common theme that brings the two characters together is that they are given a chance to escape their sin and move on with their lives. Neither character takes advantage of the opportunity. Although both are sinners, they continue to place their morality

Both John Proctor and Hester Prynne feel remorse at some point. John feels it almost immediately because he continues to be close to his wife. The one major similarity that the two adulterers share is the ability to escape. Each is provided with a way to free themselves from any more consequences of their sin, but neither of them take it. John is able to confess to a sin he did not commit to free himself, and Hester is able to leave Boston and stay in Europe, but neither take their opportunities. Hester and John share the same sin, but the situations they are in afterward are quite different from each other. John’s sin is hidden. No one is aware of it but himself, the paramour Abigail, and his wife Elizabeth. Hester’s sin is very open to the public. This is unavoidable for her because of her pregnancy. John’s sin comes with greater overall consequences than Hester’s sin. First, he inadvertently brings very much distress upon Elizabeth. His adultery causes Abigail to drink a charm to kill Elizabeth. Abigail’s accusation of Elizabeth is also brought upon her by John’s sin. Another consequence that John must face is the amount of internal guilt brought upon him. Reverend Hale mentions to John a hidden sin in

Despite being sinners, they still hold their morality above everything else in their lives. Hester cannot stay away from Boston because she feels that escaping is threatening to her morality. John feels the same way because his confession to witchcraft is a lie and also threatens his morality. John Proctor, by accepting death for a sin he did not commit, is able to “have his goodness now” (Miller 145). Hester may have not felt much remorse, if any, about her sin, but her morality is so incredibly important to her that she cannot possibly try to escape the consequences. Faith is very important for both of these characters. Both live in Puritan societies that are incredibly strict. The Puritan lifestyle is captured exquisitely by the actions of Hester and John. Both commit a sin, have a possible escape, and reject escaping for the sole reason that they place their morality above all else. To conclude, Hester Prynne and John Proctor show that even a person who commits the worst kind of sin still has the ability to put their morality ahead of every other aspect of their