What is the main theme of The Scarlet Letter?

In the final chapter, the narrator suggests that love and hate are, in many ways, the same.  He says, 

It is a curious subject of observation and inquiry, whether hatred and love be not the same thing at bottom. Each, in its utmost development, supposes a high degree of intimacy and heart-knowledge; each renders one individual dependent for the food of his affections and spiritual fife upon another: each leaves the passionate lover, or the no less passionate hater, forlorn and desolate by the withdrawal of his subject. Philosophically considered, therefore, the two passions seem essentially the same, except that one happens to be seen in a celestial radiance, and the other in a dusky and lurid glow. 

What is the main theme of The Scarlet Letter?

Unlike many novels, Hawthorne tells us main theme or moral in the last chapters. Hawthorne writes, "Among many morals which press upon us from the poor minister's miserable experience, we put only this into a sentence:—“Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!” In other words, do not be a hypocrite. Do not put on a false front to the world to make it seem like you have no faults. It is OK to let others know you are not perfect. This idea is exemplified in the life of Dimmesdale and Hester. Dimmesdale tried to hide his sin and guilt from the world. As a result, he was eaten alive by remorse and guilt, his heart literally weakened, and he died. Hester, on the other hand, never hid her sin and learned to rise above it by becoming humble and doing good deeds. She becomes stronger and more respected in the end that Dimmesdale, who loses all credibility with the people of Boston at the end of the novel.

What is the main theme of The Scarlet Letter?

The Scarlet Letter is a Romantic indictment of the destructive qualities of society and the institutions it creates. It is also a passionate defense of Nature.

The behaviors that Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne display toward one another outside the judgmental realm of the colony are purely natural. What stands in the way of their fulfillment are the laws and mores of the Puritan society by which they have consented to live. Pearl, the product of their natural relationship, is, for most of the novel, too young to understand the culture that seeks to squelch her own natural passions. She was conceived in Nature and feels most at home there on purely unconscious and subconscious levels.

Hawthorne seemed to believe that humanity's natural condition was good: loving, generous, compassionate, and happy. What gets in the way and turns humanity to a darker condition are the institutions, primarily religious and legalistic, that confine and constrain, causing anger, pessimism, and the inevitable persecution of others. The natural world is the only place in the novel's settings in which any of the characters find a temporary respite from their unhappy lives.

What is the main theme of The Scarlet Letter?

One could specify several main themes to this story: sin, guilt, lust, and dishonesty come to mind. But I think a significant theme worth exploring is that of double standards of morality for men and women.

Hester Prynne is publicly shamed, made to wear a scarlet letter "A" on her clothing, for her "sin" of adultery. She bears a child (a daughter named Pearl), and this child is also shamed by the villagers, as she is seen as evidence of her mother's adultery. But Hester is proud and defiant, knowing she did not do anything wrong but only followed her heart. But during this period in history, women were considered the property of men, and their sexuality was subject to the strict puritanical values of the era. Oftentimes pregnancy was the source of shame and shunning for single women, and paternity could not be determined, so it fell upon women to bear their burden alone if men did not admit their involvement.

When it is discovered that Hester's lover and the father of her child is in fact a clergyman, the double standard of morality for men and women in this context is exposed. The hypocrisy of the church, which was the source of moral guidance for communities in Colonial America, is also exposed here. Hester may be guilty of sin, but she is being judged based upon the tenets of the church, and since it is a clergyman who is her lover, there is clearly a double standard of behavior and integrity that applies to men and women as well as to clergy and laypeople. Her lover is also guilty of this sin under the these standards. But the two are in love. Hawthorne's message on some level seems to be that love transcends social norms, and hypocrisy stands in the way of lovers who cannot be together because of social expectations.

What are the central ideas of The Scarlet Letter?

One of the main ideas of The Scarlet Letter is that society often separates individuals from their true identity. As an adulteress in a Puritan society, Hester Prynne has had an artificial identity imposed upon her, an identity symbolized for all to see by the dreaded scarlet letter. As far as the moral guardians of the community are concerned, Hester's an adulteress: a sinful, fallen woman, and that's all that anyone really needs to know about her. The idea of her being a human being, deserving of respect and dignity, simply doesn't occur to them for a moment.

At the same time, the imposition of the scarlet letter for Hester's transgressions allows her to forge an identity of her own. Hester's a strong-willed, intelligent woman who simply will not accept that society has the right to determine who and what she really is. This defiant attitude explains Hester's surprising reaction to news that the town's elders are considering letting her remove the scarlet letter. We might think that she'd welcome the prospect of casting off this badge of public shame and humiliation. But Hester's thinking is that, if she is to remove the scarlet letter, it should be because she and she alone has made the free choice to do so, not because local worthies have graciously condescended to give their permission.

What are the central ideas of The Scarlet Letter?

Author Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and became a man of deep religious faith. He considered himself a good Christian and developed and followed an individual moral code for his personal life. His views on “original sin” and the will of God were ingrained in his personality and actions, but he also possessed a strong sense of conscience. As a result, the author was determined to criticize the treatment of women in Puritan America and expose the hypocrisy and religious fanaticism of the ministers and other religious leaders of the era. He extracted events from historical records to form the essence of his criticism and altered them to fit his purposes. For example, he writes:

Most of the spectators testified to having seen, on the breast of the unhappy minister, a SCARLET LETTER—the very semblance of that worn by Hester Prynne—imprinted in the flesh. As regarded its origin, there were various explanations, all of which must necessarily have been conjectural. Some affirmed that the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, on the very day when Hester Prynne first wore her ignominious badge, had begun a course of penance,—which he afterwards, in so many futile methods, followed out,—by inflicting a hideous torture on himself.

Hawthorne begins his “historical novel” with a lengthy introductory essay by a Surveyor who is a Salem Customs official and the unnamed narrator of the tale. The author lends credibility to his story by drawing events and characters from Puritan life in the seventeenth century. He uses the typical happenings of that time period as a basis for his criticism of the mistreatment of women and hypocrisy of the religious leaders in the Puritan communities. By infusing some information taken from historical events into The Scarlet Letter, the author serves his main purpose for the novel, which is to bring to light the cruelty and abuse suffered by victims in 1642 under Puritan rule.

What are the plot and theme of The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne?

The Scarlet Letter is the best known and most read novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Set in Puritan New England in the 1600s, Hawthorne is largely addressing the theme of the individual versus society. Hawthorne is writing the novel in the 1800s, during the Romantic period. This time period shows a shift in focus within culture, moving from a communal mindset to a more individualized focus. Hawthorne's uplifting of the individual is captured in his tale's moral, "Be true, be true, be true." Hester becomes a romanticized hero because of her faithfulness to herself over the regulations of an oppressive and judgmental society. In this sense, she is contrasted with Dimmesdale, who sacrificed his individuality for the sake of society's acceptance. 

Themes of Guilt vs. Innocence and Sin's Consequences are also seen in the novel. Hawthorne is at times ambiguous about his definitions of "sin" and "guilt," however. The novel seems to explore different levels of sin, showing different consequences accordingly. Hester wears her consequence with pride, and, remaining true to herself until the end, is able to change the people's opinion of herself and her sin. Dimmesdale hides his sin, and his consequences therefore are also hidden until the end. However, his sin is not just against society's rules. He also sin by denying himself for the sake of society. His consequence is more severe -- a growing weakness that ends in his death. Chillingworth's sin is against others -- a sin aimed at causing pain. Like Dimmesdale, his sin is secret and the consequences are slow and hidden, concluding in his own death as well.

Several conflicts are developed in the novel to demonstrate these themes. Hester versus the townspeople (or society) is a main, external conflict. We also see internal conflict within both Hester and Dimmesdale, and they wrestle within themselves to be individuals. Another major external conflict is Dimmesdale versus Chillingworth, as Chillingworth tries to enact revenge on Dimmesdale. All of the main conflicts are resolved in the final scene -- Hester and Dimmesdale are able to reveal their true selves to the town, Dimmesdale is able to escape Chillingworth once and for all, and Hester is finally able to move on from her past.

There are some minor conflicts as well. Hester and Pearl have to fight early in the novel to stay together. Hester and Pearl also have conflict with each other, as Pearl is both her mother's blessing and curse. Arguably, Chillingworth is in a losing battle with himself as he pursues revenge. Hester and Chillingworth also have conflict with each other, due to her affair and then her promise to keep his identity a secret.

The Scarlet Letter does seem to have two distinct plots. The plot following Hester and her conflicts would be the main plot. We consider this the main plot for several reasons: Hester is the character most focused on, Hester is the character wearing the scarlet letter, and Hester is the character seen in the first and last scenes of the novel. The subplot would be Dimmesdale's conflicts. He has a secret scarlet letter, he is also experiencing conflict in connection with his sin, and he is also seen in the final scene. These two plots intertwine throughout the novel, though both have distinct rising action, climax, and resolution.

What is a theme in The Scarlet Letter and how does Hawthorne develop it?

One of the most salient themes in The Scarlet Letter is hypocrisy. We see it  so much in the novel that it would take pages to analyze how it is presented and in how many ways. Suffice to say that perhaps the most hypocritical of all characters is Arthur Dimmesdale.  Hawthorne has a way to show this within controlled parameters. This means that Arthur can be called a hypocrite all we want, but we still tend to show some deference to him because of his circumstances.

Hypocrisy is rampant in the Puritan setting of The Scarlet Letter. A very interestingly similar setting is also presented in the Puritan village of Salem in the famous play by Arthur Miller, The Crucible. It makes readers wonder what life was really like in a place thought to be representing a righteous and holy existence. One thing is clear: Being sanctimonious is not being saintly. This is the case with Dimmesdale.

A learned Englishman, Arthur Dimmesdale is well-educated in theology and divinity. As minister, he is the envoy of God among the masses of the colonies. He leads the villagers as their spiritual mentor and guide. As such, the responsibilities that he acquires essentially include the safety and preservation of the morale and mental state of his flock.

Yet, what happens when he is the one to fall prey to sin? In Dimmesdale's mind, the thing to do is keep the thing under wraps. The novel does not tell us anything about that, but we can safely assume that when Dimmesdale and Hester had their affair, it was not meant to be for the sake of getting married and having children.

Instead, the relationship is secret quiet until the moment when Hester becomes pregnant and can no longer hide the fact that she has been seeing someone. As she refuses to give up the name of the father of her child, Dimmesdale starts growing anxious and feeling guilty. Here is where he perhaps realizes one sad truth: Hester is more courageous and strong than he is. Even sadder still, their behaviors show who really loves who. Clearly, Hester loves Dimmesdale much more than he had ever loved her.

Hypocrisy is also evident in that Dimmesdale continues life as usual, still leading the flock, still preaching, and still carrying out the charade of trying to get Hester to confess the name of her lover at the scaffold. Readers may argue that Dimmesdale has no choice but to keep quiet given the circumstances of his status. Also, that Dimmesdale punished himself enough by carving that letter "A" on his own chest. Those facts are true. However, Dimmesdale does not carry the public badge of shame that Hester carries. He is equally responsible for Hester's fall and still he does not take the fall with her.

More unnerving still is that he blindly continues to feed the ego of the "young divine" that the villagers have made of him.

Lost as my own soul is, I would still do what I may for other human souls! I dare not quit my post, though an unfaithful sentinel, whose sure reward is death and dishonor, when his dreary watch shall come to an end!"

Even on election day, the day when he is supposed to escape with Hester and his daughter to a better life, he gives up the mission altogether, takes to the flock, gives a speech, confesses as best as he can, and then dies. Lest we forget that, to add to the injury, he tells Hester, shortly before his death, that they won't be meeting in heaven, either. It is all a convoluted way to go around the truth but sacrificing for it. For a man of his stature in the community, it does not present him under the most respectable light. It just shows him as someone with a tendency to be hypocritical in nature.

What are the main themes of The Scarlet Letter?

The Scarlett Letter is concerned with the idea of guilt. Hawthorne looks at the irony of how the Puritan society interprets and handles “guilt” regarding the main character Hester Prynne, who has committed adultery and given birth to a daughter. The Puritans of the town shun her for years.

Hester’s guilt is simple and straightforward—she slept with someone she wasn’t married to. This was a serious breach of Puritan morality. But there is greater guilt behind the scenes. The Reverend Dimmesdale is the father of Hester’s child. He does not reveal this fact for years. Therefore, the leader of the town’s Puritan community is also guilty. Roger Chillingsworth, Hester’s long-lost husband, spends years exacting secret revenge—he too is guilty. In fact, Chillingsworth, the character who was originally wronged, is the guiltiest of them all, because he becomes consumed with the idea of revenge.

The theme of the story is about levels of guilt, but also about the devastating effect of the refusal to forgive those who wrong us.

What truths are revealed in The Scarlet Letter?

Heralded by many as the greatest of distincly American novels, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is not only a portrait of the American Puritan experience, it is also a psychological study of the effects of sin and guilt and redemption as well as a depiction of human nature, in general.  Tormented by the "sins of the fathers," especially the memory of his uncle's having been a judge during the Salem Witchcraft Trials, Hawthorne wrote a novel that is, in effect, an examination of the cause of such a debacle of Puritanical sanctimony.

• The hypcrosy of the Puritans is a recurring motif in this novel.  Subjugated to imprisoning sin within their hearts, the Puritans become hypocritical and thus, tortured by their existence that becomes a lie.  For instance, Roger Chillingworth darkens much like the sinister plant that Pearl identifies with him, and he becomes fiend-like, bent, and decaying.  Likewise, the Reverend Dimmesdale is also psychologically tortured.  In this mental torment, the minister seeks relief by, ironically, tormenting his physical body with self-flagellation.  So tortured is he by his secret sin that his body manifests his guilt with the stigmata of the scarlet A upon his chest.  Also, Little Pearl, a symbol of Hester's and Arthur Dimmesdale's sins only becomes human on the scaffold with her kiss of recognition to the now admitted sinner, her father, who holds the hand of her mother, also an admitted sinner, whose wearing of the scarlet letter, ironically, effects Hester's redemption.  Thus, it is the admission of sin that redeems people, Hawthorne contends, not the hiding.  His statement of theme and final exhoration of the novel is contained in the narrator's address to the reader: "Be true! Be true!"
• The isolation of man from others is an unnatural state that has devastating effects.  While Hester is ostracized from others, she is alienated and very discontent and unsatisfied.  Her beauty fades, the beauties of Nature eschew her as the sunshine dances only upon Pearl, although Pearl herself is isolated from other children.  As people begin to reinterpret the symbolic A as representative of "Able" or "Angel," Hester is, then, re-humanized and strengthened in spirit.
• There is a need for change and transformation  In "The Custom House," Hawthorne reflects upon his position as Customs Officer and the changing times. He remarks that the wharves of Salem have been left "to crumble to ruin" and that the port "exhibits few or no symptoms of commercial life." In addition, the pavement around the Custom-House "has grass enough growing in its chinks to show that it has not, of late days, been worn by any multitudinous resort of business."  With revolutions sweeping Europe, Hawthorne felt, perhaps, that there would be changes in store for New England. In Chapter 13, Hester ponders the role of women; she concludes that it is "a hopeless task" for "the whole race of womanhood" to gain independence if they do not abandon the priorities of the heart. In order to receive any recognition, there must be a reform of society if there are to be "mightier reforms."

What is a major theme in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter?

Among the major themes in the novel, one of the most interesting to analyze is the ambiguity with which Hawthorne narrates many of the major events. Ambiguity, as a theme, touches upon a lot of the issues in the novel.

One of the ways that Hawthorne uses ambiguity is in the description and actions of Dimmesdale. While the narrative is focalized through the emotions of Hester Prynne, Dimmesdale remains in the back. Even his name embodies the nature of his gradual "dimming" in the story until the moment of this death. His once dashing personality has been weakened by the sin that he hides, and which he had to witness Hester pay for by herself. Hence, the name "Dimmesdale" is a symbol of the ambiguous man who we never get to meet entirely. 

Ambiguity is also seen in the way in which the townspeople view Governor Bellingham (whose last name also symbolic of an opulent, thick, fat, and superfluous man)  lives a double standard: life as a pilgrim, and life as a rich man. Whether the townsmen ever question this dichotomy is unknown to the reader. That is a sign of ambiguity.

Finally, the manner in which Dimmesdale dies and the town re-tells his story shows that it is also unknown to the reader whether the townsmen believed Dimmesdale's confession or if, instead, they chose to believe what they wanted. Even Hawthorne says

"The reader may choose among these theories."

Therefore, as a major theme, ambiguity plays the role of making the reader come to conclusions as far as the backbone of each character, about their actual state of mind, and about the mindset of the villagers as a community.