The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne depicts Puritan society's view of sin as unforgivable and in need of punishment. Although the Puritans' attitude toward sin is to take disciplinary actions, the punishments are often unfair and cruel which makes it a bad society. For the first example, the punishment for adultery is typically death with few exceptions. Hester Prynne had committed the sin of adultery, but because her husband was presumed dead she was spared and forced to wear a letter "A" on her chest. The letter itself is a symbol of sin that she has to deal with her whole life. A goodwife in the crowd stated, "This women has brought shame to us all, and ought to die" (49.) This shows how Puritan society views sin as the ultimate
