The Crime and Punishment of Hester Prynne In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the main theme is crime and punishment and the ways Hester Prynne overcomes adversity. She commits adultery, a very bad crime back then, and has a scarlet letter “A” embroidered on her dress. This is a constant reminder of the crime she committed and is a warning to others that she is a sinner. The letter completely changes her life and …showed first 75 words of 1248 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1248 total…she looked down upon, but also her child was because she was the “imp of evil.” But through all of that, she finally became comfortable with herself, and the people’s acceptance came along with that. Hester Prynne is the basis for crime and punishment in this novel and it is not only about how badly she is punished for her crime, but how she overcomes adversity and becomes a bit like her old self.