The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter - Individuality within a Puritan Society Often in society people are criticized, punished and despised for their individual choices and flaws. In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author attempts to show the way society casts out individuals simply because their ideas and deeds differ from the common values. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Hester Prynne to symbolize that those who challenge social conformities can benefit society as a whole. Though …

…the Hester didn't crumble and in fact stood taller despite her exclusion the Puritan society opened their eyes to see that good can survive even in the heart of a sinner. And that despite everything they tried to do, out of their fear of losing their values, individuals would still make mistakes and cause differences is the community. Thus saying that within a community there will always be individuals to test the limits of society