Hypocrisies in Religion

Throughout the Scarlet Letter, I noticed a few major hypocrisies important to the plot. After examining it further, I found that so many of the themes were hypocritical, I had to wonder if one of Hawthorne's goals in this novel was to show how hypocrisy (created by religion) can cause so many problems.


Hester and the townspeople are very hypocritical at times in the novel, but throughout the entire thing Dimmesdale is constantly. A reverend who pretends to be wise, kind, and good committed adultery - a sin that he preached against. It was frustrating for me as the reader, that he was living this huge lie at the 'expense' of Hester. Expense with quotations around it because Hester was hypocritical in the Dimmesdale department too. She claimed to love him, yet she stood by and did nothing as Chillingworth slowly tortured him, to nobody's knowledge but her own. All of the choices made by Hester, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale, are made with thought to the townspeople. All 3 are public figures, and their religious neighbours' thoughts and opinions are of the utmost importance. I have realized, however, that they are not innocent either. All of the people are firm believers in the bible, the book which advocates love and forgiveness. Early in the book Hawthorne describes a scene where some 'autumnal matrons' are gossiping about Hester's punishment. Each one wants Hester to have a very nasty punishment, "The magistrates are God-fearing gentleman, but merciful overmuch,---that is the truth, at the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne’s forehead. Madam Hester would have winced at that, I warrant me.”(36). Forgiveness and love are definitely not shown by Hester's fellow female citizens to her.


After considering it, I think that one of Hawthorne's goals was to show how religion can create very negative hypocrisy. After all, the novel would have turned out very differently if it was based in an atheist town. These hypocrisies helped to keep me engaged in the story, and made me feel angry at Dimmesdale, and at the townspeople. Hawthorne uses it skillfully throughout to make readers think and stay absorbed.