The Scarlet Letter One of the most famous literary pieces we read this year was "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This novel is considered one of Hawthorne's best pieces and can be considered a literary classic. It is obvious to see that "The Scarlet Letter" deals with issues such as sin and its consequences. From Hawthorne's ancestor's role in the Salem witch trials, we are aware of his personal reluctance and critical judgment toward the Puritans. Of the many morals discussed in the book, Hawthorne seeks to convey perhaps the strongest of these: that the only way to find salvation is to be open and honest about who you are. Through excellent use of characterization, description and expression. Hawthorne develops morality by showing the consequences of hiding sin. An example of this is through the actions of Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Pyrnne. Hester is forced throughout the play to wear a scarlet letter A on her clothes as punishment for adultery. This is Hawthorne's way of conveying that you will always pay for your sins (he does so with a lot of irony). At first the premise of the story is unclear until at the end the gallows scene brings into focus all the forces that are forming here. Arthur, Hester's equally guilty accomplice in the crime, inwardly refuses to publicly confess his sin until the end of the novel. The fact that a reverend, who for the Puritans should be considered an angelic figure, is a sinner can be considered situational irony. Even though it seemed like Chillingworth wanted this to happen, he didn't. Chillingworth attempts to stop Arthur but fails. The fact that the Chillingworths knew and continued to push against Arthur is another way Hawthorne shows his guilt towards the Puritans. Shortly after confessing, his life ends. Hawthorne sums up the retarded importance of being true to oneself in his quote: "Be true! Be true! Show the world freely, if not your worst, at least some trait from which the worst may be inferred!" (Page #) It is evident in chapters 13 and 14 that Hawthorne is trying to demonstrate how the Puritans have a problem with independent thinking (Example). This is also shown in the way Hester raises Pearl and how it is so different from conventional puritanical parenting styles.