The Scarlet Letter Sin The Scarlet Letter is a novel that deals with the theme of sin. Throughout history, people have committed all kinds of sins, and whether major or minor, people have been punished. However, it is very difficult to agree on the severity of the punishment. Some people believe that sinners should be deeply punished, no matter how small the transgression. Others believe that a person's punishment should be based on the severity of his crime. However, what many people overlook is the fact that over time we have all committed sins. In The Scarlet Letter, the idea of ​​sin and punishment is the main theme of the novel and how Hester Prynne, the protagonist, was punished for her sin of adultery. As Nathaniel Hawthorne states in this novel: "From the point of view of Infinite Purity, we are all sinners alike." This statement places a big question mark on the true life of the Puritans. If we have all once committed a moral error, why is this young woman being punished so harshly for her sin? Hester Prynne was a young woman who lived in a Puritan community in the "New World". Her husband, Roger Chillingworth, was said to be lost at sea and Hester assumed he was dead. On this basis, young Hester committed a crime of adultery with her fellow minister Arthur Dimmesdale. The result of this extramarital affair was the birth of young Pearl, an "elf-like" child. When the townspeople learn of what Hester has done, they force her to wear one final sign of punishment, the scarlet letter. This letter "A" for adultery was to be worn on Hester's chest at all times. When analyzing the punishment meted out to her, it may seem harsh and cruel, especially for a puritanical society. It seems that Hawthorne agrees with this too. Throughout the novel, it seems evident that Hawthorne believes that the punishment Hester received was harsh and self-degrading. When one commits a sin, he should realize his mistake, receive his guilt, and receive a "slap on the wrist." However, the punishment Hester received was much worse emotionally. Wearing the letter made Hester the talk of the town. When she walked through the market, she received scornful glances, as if society rejected her for her misdeeds. Hester now lived on the outskirts of town, isolated from her neighbors and trying to communicate with her daughter Pearl.