In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthrone masterfully weaves many themes and uses character development to format the plot of this novel. The themes of The Scarlet Letter are carried out through the four main characters, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingsworth, and Pearl. The prevailing theme seen in The Scarlet Letter is sin and its effects. All of the characters in the book are somehow affected by the sin of adultery and their whole lives …showed first 75 words of 852 total…

…showed last 75 words of 852 total…experience as merely an obstacle on the path to heaven. Thus, they view sin as a threat to the community that should be punished and suppressed. Their answer to Hester's sin is to ostracize her. Yet, Puritan society is stagnant, while Hester and Dimmesdale's experience shows that a state of sinfulness can lead to personal growth, sympathy, and understanding of others. All of the main characters experienced great changes as a result of their sin.