Scarlet Letter Themes

One of the themes in the Scarlet Letter is sin leaves many consequences. One of these consequences is the ability to sense sin in other people.

Hester can sense sin in the townspeople around her. When wearing the Scarlet letter she feels different vibes and senses the sin and guilt of other people. Hester feels sympathetic towards other people, who have sinned just as she has.
Unlike Hester, Hawthorne does not directly write that the child of her sin, Pearl, has the ability to sense sin around her. Instead he leaves hints that Pearl may be a special child, with special abilities, given to her possibly by God, or perhaps, the Devil. Pearl never directly states that Dimmesdale may be her father, but she asks questions as if she knows that the answer will reveal that Di...