In The Scarlet Letter, author Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Hester Prynne, an unhappily married seamstress, and Arthur Dimmesdale, the local Puritan clergyman, to demonstrate that a community that forcibly suppresses an individual's natural desires is dangerous, both to the 'individual and for the community. community. The story centers on Hester's public punishment for adultery: she is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her chest at all times. She is captured because she becomes pregnant while her husband is away, but the name of the other culprit - her father, Dimmesdale - is hidden by Hester from the entire community. From this situation, which gradually becomes more and more complex, the human symbols used to personify the theme arise; due to the oppressive community, Hester suffers mental deterioration, Dimmesdale suffers physical ailments, and both ultimately undermine the Puritan system. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The character of Hester speaks to the psychological side effects that can arise as byproducts of submission to an oppressive community. These side effects – which include rebellion and resentment – ​​are dangerous for individuals within a society. Because of her "sin," Hester is ostracized, forced to wear the scarlet "A," and shunned, shamed, and ridiculed, all because there was no acceptable outlet within her society to satisfy her needs for unhappily married woman. Although she commits adultery, she is not necessarily an immoral woman, as evidenced by her refusal to expose Dimmesdale. She is so steadfast in her refusal to reveal - and thus taint - her name that, when asked the name of her lover, she exclaims, "I will not speak!...And my son must seek a heavenly father; she will" . I will never know an earthly one!" (66). Such loyalty in the name of love and God cannot exist in a person of low morals or personal spirit. Rather, she is a desperate and frustrated woman living in a community that does not is unable or unwilling to reasonably address her position. Ironically, this highly religious society fails to offer Hester compassion and understanding, welcoming her only with hatred and ridicule “Love thy neighbor,” even suggests that “The magistrates…should have put the mark of a hot iron on the forehead of Hester Prynne” (49), she acts with compassion by not denouncing Dimmesdale as the father of her child Living with this hypocrisy in the hostile Puritan society is the most significant force in his psychological afflictions, as what he believes to be a moral act often directly contradicts the ideals of his community. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, does not represent the brutal end of the social system but the inherent hypocrisy of society. A Puritan priest, supposedly of high moral character, Dimmesdale becomes like Hester: unable to find refuge within his Puritan society. While Hester is publicly ridiculed and ostracized, Dimmesdale must live a lie and play the part of a highly moral community leader. He does not suffer the ostracism and humiliation of Hester, but is driven to suffer just as deeply due to personal conflicts. Not only is he too weak to resist a desperate woman to whom society has offered no outlet, but he also lacks the moral character to admit his flaws and weaknesses. His situation is almost worse than Hester's because at least she was sincere and feels she is doing the best thing; Dimmesdale lives in anguish over the sin he bears.