Hawthorne uses transcendentalist ideas in order to show how sin can allow personal growth
             In The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne uses the Puritan society as an analogy for mankind. This setting allowed him to show the human soul under extreme pressure. The main characters of Hester, Dimmesdale and Chillingworth were a part of the Puritan society but they also reflected universal experiences. The Puritan community was known for its "intolerance of dissenting ideas and lifestyles", (Gradesaver, p.1). They saw sin as an evil, a threat to their community, an obstacle on their way to heaven. However, evil is tricky and just when you think you know what it is, it changes form. In this novel Hawthorne uses transcendentalist ideas in order to show how sin can allow personal growth.
             The Town and Forests represents opposing behavioral systems. In the town or civilization everyone watches your actions and your transgressions are quickly judged and punished. This society leaves no room for creativity or individuality and consequently creates a cycle that restarts with each passing generation. Father teaches sin, son becomes father; Mother teaches daughter, daughter becomes mother. With each passing generation the people become more conformists as this is what's expected of them and what they know. This system leaves no opportunity for mistakes therefore they cannot learn from them. "The Puritan society became stagnant", (Sparknotes, Themes p.1) as it did not allow personal growth. Whereas while Hester and Dimmesdale struggle to reconcile with their sin they learned sympathy and understanding for others. These qualities have always been incompatible with a state of purity. To be pure is to never have experienced sin so as a result of this you cannot understand it. This is why the Puritan elders saw sin as "threat to their community", (Sparknotes, Themes p.1) – they had never experience it and therefore could no...