How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Minor Characters In The Scarlet Letter

Creating a more realistic story with his usage of historical figures as actual characters in the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses these minor characters—Governor Bellingham, Mistress Hibbins, and Reverend Wilson—to not only help develop the main characters’ plotline, but to mainly use them as examples of aspects in Puritan society that he does not support completely. In his writing style, he never directly criticizes the people, but he uses ironical situations with minor characters symbolizing various parts of society in order to imply all of the hidden meanings that he has in mind. To be accepted in the Puritan society, one must live a religious and simple life without unnecessary extravagances. Ideally this will show the devotion that they have towards God and their beliefs but it is in human nature to be greedy so the most powerful and influential Puritans have a higher chance of succumbing to the temptation of …show more content…
She symbolizes the hidden evils of Puritanism and is often seen attempting to persuade the main characters to come and meet the Black Man in the forbidden forest. When Arthur Dimmesdale runs into her after he planned to elope with Hester earlier, she remarks that although everybody will deny any of his sins in broad daylight, everything will consequently be revealed “at midnight, and in the forest.” Daylight overshadows midnight just like how the purity in Puritanism overshadows its tainted nature; however, just because this happens doesn’t mean that the darkness for both do not exist. While the plotline progresses, she is always in the background reminding the main characters of their sins. After talking with her once, he feels guilt while he wonders if he had sold his soul to the devil, letting the “infectious poison of sin (spread quickly) through his moral