The Scarlet Letter and Sins In the past, adultery was, as it is today, considered a sin. Harsh punishment always applies to women under this circumstance. If a priest, in this case Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a role model of society commits sin of this nature, harsher punishment awaits him. There were many different forms of punishment for sinners; they would publicly humiliate, ruin reputations, exclude them from the community (treat them as if they were outcasts). Today's society made adultery more acceptable, but still the sin nonetheless. The Scarlet Letter focuses on adultery as a sin and ways to redeem it. As shown in the book, and Hester’s experience, sins can be redeemed by performing good deeds (helping the community) and acknowledge their wrongs. …show more content…
As a result of the committed crime, her punishment laid on her “breasts of her gown… a letter A” (Hawthorne 6). The scarlet letter represented adultery. Although Pearl, an extremely observant girl and also Hester's daughter “marked [the] woman's sin by scarlet letter…[She] was her mother's only treasure” (Hawthorne 41). Hester continued to live with the scarlet letter on her chest for seven years. One of the ways to redeem her sin is through charity work, and helping the