Is Hester A Sinner

In seventeenth-century America, Puritans lived in the American communities. These Puritans believed that sin was horrific, and they were quick to cast judgment on anyone who sinned. In The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the main character, Hester Prynne, committed an act of adultery. This sinful act resulted in a feeling of guilt and humiliation as she tried to go about her normal life in the community of Salem. Her punishment for this transgression was to stand on a scaffold for three hours while she was shamed and chastised by Puritans. By acknowledging that her actions were wrong, Hester matured mentally and she experienced a freedom that she had never felt before. Her development throughout the story displayed Hawthorne's opinions on discrimination against others and confirmed that everyone is a sinner. Because Hester confessed her sin and suffered through
They used their freedom by judging those who sinned in an attempt to force their religious views on anybody they encountered. Another example of the way the Puritans treated Hester was when she was forced to wear a scarlet “A” on her bosom which symbolized that she was an adulterer. These incidents became a learning experience for Hester and allowed her to transform into an overall better person because she accepted her wrongdoings. Her sins showed Hawthorne’s purpose for the story. Hawthorne’s intention for The Scarlet Letter was to show that everyone is a sinner, and it cannot be avoided.
In addition to Hester’s recognition of her sin, Brook Thomas, in his critical piece, “‘The Scarlet Letter’ as Civic Myth”, believes that a crucial part of Hester accepting her sin came from the town acknowledging her immoral act. Thomas argues that Hawthorne sees her sin as a way to go against compromises made my other human beings, and he views Hester’s sin as a way for her to start