The Very Dance of Her Spirits

Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter seems to be packed full of messages and themes, most of them dealing with moral and ethical dilemmas and the acceptance of sin. It is like he is tossing the Puritan image out the window and encouraging, not necessarily sin, but the basic fact that all people sin and that sin is inevitable. Hawthorne sends the image that we all need to realize (more specifically religious/Puritan individuals) the idea that people are not as pious or perfect as you may initially think they are. Sin is inevitable.

For example, Hester's sin was discovered and she had to openly display her adultery for all to see. Dimmsdale, on the other hand, never admitted his sin to the people and was tortured by his guilt and the misleading image he presented. Because of this, HEster seems to come out as the stronger person. People see the scarlet letter and assume she is a terrible person, but she does everything to contradict their judgements. Meanwhile, Dimmsdale always has to carry around the weight of a lie.

I think in the same way, Hawthorne means we should all attempt to be more like Hester, by accepting our sin and using it to make us stronger or changing our flaws to the best of or abilities.