The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Unlike modern authors, Nathaniel Hawthorne is more concerned with what sin causes rather than what causes sin. In his stories, such as The Scarlet Letter, this is especially present. The focus of the plot is not how or why Hester chose to have an affair with Dimmesdale, but what happened to the two as a result. The setting of the story is set after the sin has already been committed, lasting several years after to show the affects of the sinners actions.
When Hester is introduced as a sinner, the explanation of her crime is brief. She "clasp[s] the infant (Pearl) closely to her bosom" (37…