What is the overall message or theme of "The Scarlet Letter"? The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a novel that covers themes of guilt, legalism, redemption, and punishment. The novel’s message seems to be that individuals will eventually face the consequences of their actions, and the repression of sin does not lead to its elimination but instead causes greater torment. The story reveals the dangers of a rigid, Puritanical society that is unable to accept human imperfections and is excluded to difference or diversity. Hawthorne is critical of Puritanism and society's rigid standards, portrayed through his characters. Hester Prynne, the novel’s protagonist, challenges the society's expectations of women to be subservient and passive. Hawthorne uses Pearl as a symbol of freedom and Hester’s inner self, rendering her as someone who stands out from the conformist Puritans. Similarly, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale represents the hypocrisy of the community, displaying that the public doesn’t always see the truth behind the mask. Hawthorne's message authenticates that the consequences of sin are irrevocable, and those who commit a wrong can never wholly depart from it. The novel challenges people to embrace their imperfections, reminding the readers that everyone is capable of sin, and it is better to confront it rather than repress it. Moreover, he criticizes the hypocrisy present in organized religion and the tendency of the people to ignore their imperfections instead of acknowledging them, ultimately leading to misery and self-destruction. References: - Hawthorne, N. (1850). The Scarlet Letter. Ticknor, Reed, and Fields. - Shippee, T. P. (1983). The Scarlet Letter: The Burden of Private Guilt. Studies in the Novel, 15(2), 113-121. - Ringe, D. A. (1970). Hester Prynne: Patriarchalism and its female victims in The Scarlet Letter. Nineteenth-Century Fiction, 25(1), 63-69.
