The Punishment of a Sinner in The Scarlet Letter

The Punishment of a Sinner in The Scarlet Letter

Who should punish a sinner? Should it be religion, society, or the individual? In Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter all three affect the main character Hester Prynne. Religion punishes her with the Scarlet Letter, society ostracizes her as punishment, and individually she was able to move on in life but still returned to her haunting past where she died.

Religion plays a big part in the Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne wore the
Scarlet Letter to remind her of the mistake she made. Instead of taking Pearl away the people wanted her to wear the "A" for adultery. Hester brought up her child forcing the the thought of the heavenly father. Hester's whole lifestyle was altered. She obeyed everyone and for seven years was cursed by standing on the scaffold. The people's beliefs strongly enforced the idea that Hester would wear the Scarlet Letter, so she did. It constantly forced the thought of the sin she had committed and would haunt her for good. "I have thought have death," said she, - "have wished for it, - would even have prayed for it, were it fit that
such as I should pray for anything."

Society was an influence on the scarlet letter. People of the town
believed that Hester was a witch as well as sinner. Society ostracized her because no one in the town had ever delt with any kind of sin as adultery so they looked at her as a witch. The people in a way wanted to ruin her life because people actually thought she was bad. One of the real canadites that wanted to ruin Hester was Mistress Hibbins.

Through out the whole story Mistress Hibbins constantly gives Hester her piece of mind.

"Thou thyself wilt see it, one time or another. They say, child, thou art of the lineage of the Prince of the Air! Wilt thou ride with me, some fine night, to see thy father."

Individually she was ostracized and criticized no matter where she went.
As time went on she helped the people proving there was a true side to Hester Prynne. That led to the "A" no longer standing for adultery but for able. When all had been coming together for Hester it proved that her punishment from the people had turned to a compliament. This shows that individually she was able to handle the heat of the people. When she became real strong she was able to move on with life but she faced the fact that her life would never be the same if she didn't move back to her haunted town full of dreadful memories. So she did, and that's were she died. "I know not! I know not!" she hurriedly repeated.

"Better? Yea; so we may both die, and little pearl die with us!" As we know the conclusion Hester did indeed die and lay next to the one she loved, the minister.