The second theme deals with the strictness of Puritan society. In the start of second chapter the women in the town are speaking with great malice about Hester Prynne they speak of her as though she has committed the severest of crimes. "This woman has brought shame upon us all and ought to die."

Through these few women Hawthorne gives the impression that Hester is of very bad character, the women describe her as "a hussy." Yet when she finally steps out Hawthorne describes her as an elegant and beautiful woman. It is not till she comes out of prison till Hawthorne starts showing his true opinion about the severity of the puritanical society. The people are very offended by the fact that this Scarlet letter whi

I don't really understand Mistress Hibbins and her motives at all. But she had the premonition that what happened to Dimmesdale at the end would come true she told Hester that the "Black man has a way of ordering matters so that mark shall be disclosed in open daylight to the eyes of all the world.

I feel very sorry for Pearl; she's caught in all this involuntarily. She seems to be very incomplete and I believe it's because she has no father, she demands that her mother tells her who her father is but Hester refuses to do so. Hawthorne describes pearl as being evil but I don't see why she's very innocent to me. All this is implemented upon her by the actions of her mother. Just like her mother pearl is an outcast when it comes to dealing with other children. Hawthorne describes Pearl as the scarlet letters "the child's whole appearance was the scarlet letter in another form." We see in chapter seven how Pearl is a victim of her mothers actions again, the townspeople say " Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter... there is the likeness of the Scarlet letter running by

Hester's image seems to be slightly changing and getting worse for Dimmesdale. Hester is "A" is seen now as "Able" instead of "Adultery". But the passage that puzzles me is the passage comparing the letter to a "cross on a nun's bosom". That seems contradictory sort of oxymoronic.

 Hawthorne describes Hester as simply accepting the punishment that she received, but not really suffering. Dimmesdale on the other hand is seen as being very innocent. Hawthorne is very sympathetic through his diction it seems, towards Dimmesdale.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1582
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)