The Puritan Society In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Can one teach a life lesson through pure misery of another? Nathaniel Hawthorne effectively portrays the Puritan society in a Dark Romantic point of view within The Scarlet Letter. He uses characters such as Hester Prynne, Reverend Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth to show the dim side of emotions. Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses these three main characters to show the responsibility one should take for his actions, the internal suffering caused by guilt, and the dangerous effects of giving into evil.
Puritan Minister, Arthur Dimmesdale’s role within The Scarlet Letter proves that it is vital for all of mankind to take responsibility for their actions no matter the consequences. Dimmesdale watched Hester Prynne and her baby, Pearl, stand up on a scaffold to be humiliated for adultery at the beginning of the novel. However, he did not go with them even though he was the other person in the relationship. Despite his part in the relationship and responsibly for fathering an illegitimate child, Dimmesdale found himself concerned about his reputation. Therefore, when Dimmesdale said, “I stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood,” (Hawthorne 209) people reacted in astonishment, and
Therefore, the demon “could play upon him as he chose” (Hawthorne 92). This proves that the Devil comes closer to consuming one that feels guilty of the sin they have committed because they become ignorant to the things that go on around them. In addition to that, Chillingworth told Hester, “Better had he died at once! Never did mortal suffer what this man has suffered” (Hawthorne 124). Consequently, one can remain in a living Hell by being vulnerable to evil when they are down from the sin they have made. Hawthorne shows that evil can attempt to overwhelm one when grieving over the negative action that has been