In The Scarlet Letter, author Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Hester Prynne, an unhappy seamstress, and Arthur Dimmesdale, the local Puritan minister, to prove that a community that forcibly suppresses an individual's natural desires is dangerous, both both for the individual and for the community. The story centers on Hester's public punishment for adultery: she is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her chest at all times. She is arrested because she becomes pregnant while her husband is away, but the name of the other culprit - the father, Dimmesdale - is hidden by Hester from the entire community. From this situation, which gradually becomes more complex, are born the human symbols used to personify the theme; Because of the oppressive community, Hester suffers mental deterioration, Dimmesdale suffers physical illnesses, and both end up undermining the Puritan system. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The character Hester speaks about the psychological side effects that can occur as a byproduct of submitting to an oppressive community. These side effects – which include rebellion and resentment – ​​are dangerous for individuals within a society. Because of her "sin," Hester is ostracized, forced to wear the scarlet "A," and is shunned, humiliated, and ridiculed, all because there was no acceptable outlet within her society for meet her needs as an unhappy woman in marriage. Although she commits adultery, she is not necessarily an immoral woman, as evidenced by her refusal to denounce Dimmesdale. She is so firm in her refusal to reveal - and thus sully - her name that, when asked the name of her lover, she exclaims: "I will not speak!... And my child must seek a heavenly father; I never know an earthly one!" (66). Such loyalty in the name of love and God cannot exist in a person of poor morals or spirit. Rather, it is a desperate woman and frustrated who lives in a community that is unable or unwilling to reasonably handle her situation. Ironically, this highly religious society fails to offer Hester compassion and understanding, only greeting her with hatred and ridicule. the Puritan community, which nominally lives by the slogan "Love thy neighbor," even suggests that "the magistrates...should have put the mark of a hot iron on Hester Prynne's forehead" (49). , she acts compassionately in not revealing Dimmesdale as the father of her child. Living with this hypocrisy in a hostile Puritan society is the most significant strength of her psychological afflictions, as what she believes to be a moral act often directly contradicts. the ideals of his community. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, represents not the abrupt end of the social system but the hypocrisy inherent in society. A Puritan pastor, presumably of high morality, Dimmesdale becomes like Hester: unable to find refuge within his Puritan society. While Hester is publicly ridiculed and ostracized, Dimmesdale must live a lie and play the role of a highly moral community leader. He does not suffer Hester's ostracism or humiliation, but he is made to suffer just as deeply due to personal conflicts. Not only is he too weak to resist a desperate woman for whom society has offered no outlet, but he also lacks the moral character to admit his faults and weaknesses. Her situation is almost worse than Hester's because at least she told the truth and feels that she is doing the wrong thing..