What Is The Hypocrisy In The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s brilliant novel, The Scarlet Letter uses hypocrisy to illustrate the corruption within the Puritan religion. Hawthorne’s novel specifically illustrates the injustices of the Puritan religion before, and after The Salem Witch trials of 1692. Most of Hawthorne’s characters did something hypocritical to further develop their character and emotions. Hawthorne uses real historical people to prove his points; including Hester Prynne, Reverend Dimmesdale, and Doctor Chillingworth. All of these characters have either been a victim of hypocrisy or have been exposed by hypocrisy by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Hester Prynne is seen as the unlawfully convicted by being burdened with the scarlet A, but does the punishment fit the crime? Hester Prynne did indeed commit adultery, but the burden of the letter A on her chest caused more harm than good. For example, the townspeople would gossip, insult, and even preach, about her while she was at church, just passing by, even while her child was present. The Puritans are so hypocritical that they claim how holy they are, but are so hateful. Many would argue and say that The Puritans did give Hester a 2nd chance by giving her the scarlet A, but that caused Hester

Even going as far as to use The Puritan church, The Puritan people, and The Puritan religion, to help prove his point. His own grandfather was involved in the 1692 Salem Witch Trials as a judge, and wrote The Scarlet Letter and The Crusival in honor of his grandfather. Nathaniel Hawthorne put a lot of thought into each of his novels carefully planning were hypocrisy would be used. Therefore, he emphasized The Puritan people's hypocrisy because they were the most hypocritical of all the characters. Hypocrisy played the biggest role in The Scarlet Letter defining each character's qualities, exposing each of their sins, and informing the character of the corrupt