The Crucible Compared to the Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter is comparable to Arthur Millers play The Crucible because they are in the Puritan New England era during the 17th and 18th century and follow the same laws and harsh punishments for that time. The Scarlet Letter is a story of Hester Prynne, a woman dealing with the Puritan punishment given to her, where The Crucible follows rumors about witchery cases as they spread throughout the small town. Hester Prynne, the main character of The Scarlet Letter, was found guilty for adultery and sentenced to wear a red scarlet letter A on her chest to let the townspeople aware of her sin. Similar to The Crucibles main character, John Proctor, who admits to having an affair on his wife with housemaid Abigail Williams. Instead of him having to wear a scarlet letter A, he is hung for the public to see.

When John was pulled into court over the accusations Abigail has made of his infidelity, he admits to his sin. He is emotional and he is hurt by the pain he caused to himself and to his wife. Whereas when Hester was accused she speaks nothing about her sin and mistake, she stays quiet and doesnt show emotion towards her punishments. The reason Abigail takes John to court for the purpose of revenge, to admit to his sin is so that Elizabeth, John Proctor's wife, will leave him and Abigail will have a chance to be with John. But with a turn of events Elizabeth and John forgive each others sins. Hester Prynne's story isnt much different. Her infidelity was with the Reverend Dimmesdale, once her husband, Chillingworth, comes back into the picture he seeks revenge on Dimmesdale by guilting him and having his conscious put thoughts and ideas in his head.

Another comparable theme that these two share is the time period in which they take place. Both of the stories/plays take place in Massachusetts around the 17th and 18th century Puritan era. During this time religion was at an all time high, religion was well known and respected throughout the setting. This means when whichcraft comes into play, it's automatically the work of the devil, because it is not Godly. Which also means when infidelity happens it is frowned upon and a sin.

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