values punishment over compassion and forgiveness.
Public Shame and Hypocrisy: The Puritan crowd judges Hester harshly while hiding its own sins. A woman says,
“The Reverend Master Dimmesdale takes it very grievously to his heart….”
This is deeply ironic because Dimmesdale himself is the sinner. Hawthorne shows the false purity of Puritan society. They care more for appearance than truth. Their religion teaches mercy, but their actions show pride and hypocrisy. Through this irony, Hawthorne exposes the double standard in Puritan moral life.
Human Frailty and Compassion: Hawthorne’s Puritanic attitude is not purely negative. He shows that human weakness should bring sympathy, not hatred. The kind woman in the crowd says,
“Let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart.”
This voice represents Hawthorne’s moral view—true religion should understand human frailty. He admires spiritual purity but rejects cruelty. His tone mixes moral awareness with pity. He believes that sin is human, and that forgiveness, not judgment, brings real goodness.
Sin and Moral Growth: Hawthorne contrasts Puritan punishment with Hester’s quiet goodness. Through suffering, Hester becomes noble and strong. The narrator says,
“But this had been a sin of passion, not of principle, nor even purpose.”
He shows that moral growth can come from sin when joined with repentance. The Puritans cannot see this. They value strict law, not inner change. Hawthorne’s attitude shows that true religion lies in the heart. He respects faith but rejects the cold and joyless form of Puritan belief.
Moral Lesson and Balance: At the end, Hawthorne delivers a moral beyond Puritanism. The narrator says,
“Be true! Be true! Be true!”
Here, he teaches honesty and self-awareness, not fear of law. He sees truth as the real light of religion. His Puritanic attitude is balanced—he accepts moral discipline but condemns intolerance. He believes that spiritual truth grows from love, honesty, and self-examination, not blind punishment.
In termination, Hawthorne’s Puritanic attitude in “The Scarlet Letter” is both moral and critical. He respects the Puritan aim for purity but rejects its cruelty and hypocrisy. His characters show that love and truth are greater than rigid law. Through his gentle yet strong criticism, Hawthorne turns Puritanism into a lesson of mercy, humanity, and spiritual understanding. His vision blends faith with deep compassion.
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