The Scarlet Letter: Sin, Isolation and Reunion Nathaniel Hawthorne uses setting, plot and characters to develop the theme of sin, isolation and of the meeting in his novel, The Scarlet Letter. In this novel Hawthorne uses scaffolding along with other locations in the setting to develop this theme. Develop the plot by having a character torment or act as the conscience of another to develop the climax and resolution. The characters help develop this theme by tormenting the other characters and never letting them forget the sin they have committed, which pushes them further into isolation. Hawthorne uses the setting to develop the theme of sin, isolation, and reunion. One of the main places in the environment where he uses this process is the scaffolding. The scaffold is used in the novel as a place to show sin at the beginning of the story when Hester is shown on it. Even during this scene it served to isolate her from the rest of the community. Then later in the story it is used again when Arthur stands on the scaffold platform giving a false penance, which pushes him further into isolation. Then at the end of the story it is used again to reunite Arthur with himself, the community and God before dying. It is also used in this scene to reunite Pearl with herself by making her normal. He also used the cottage where Hester lived as a place of seclusion for her. The cottage was just outside the community sphere. He was also on a barren piece of land where nothing would grow. The forest was also an important place of incitement to sin. It was where the Boogeyman lived and if you signed his book you would wear his sign on your chest. Not only was it a place of sin but it was also a place of isolation. The isolation in the forest occurred when Hester met Arthur in the forest to hopefully get a reunion, but instead pushed them further into isolation. The use of settings greatly structured how the theme of sin, isolation and reunion arose. The plot was used to develop the theme of sin, isolation and reunion. There are five basic parts to the plot: conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This is called the plot.