Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS) · Research article · Open access
The Hypocrisy View in Puritan Society and Its Relationship with Adultery Punishment in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
Ahmed Rasheed Majeed
9 May 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 5, pp. 549-552
DOI: 10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-06
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What is this article about?
The Scarlet Letter, published in (1850) by Nathaniel Hawthorne, represents a harsh criticism of the Puritan society in the seventeenth century. It does so by unveiling the hypocrisy hidden beneath strict religious moral standards.
Article at a glance
- Published
- 9 May 2026
- Volume / issue / pages
- Vol. 2, Issue 5, pp. 549-552
- ISSN
- 3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0 — free to read and reuse with attribution
- Peer review
- Double-blind, at least two independent reviewers
- Publisher
- EP Journals Group
Abstract
The Scarlet Letter, published in (1850) by Nathaniel Hawthorne, represents a harsh criticism of the Puritan society in the seventeenth century. It does so by unveiling the hypocrisy hidden beneath strict religious moral standards. Hawthorne discloses the paradox between people’s appearance of possessing moral and religious values, and their inner moral corruption. This contradiction becomes evident in public condemnation towards Hester, and the guilt concealed by Dimmesdale. In this study, the researcher attempts to explore the way Puritan authority maintains over people through the use of accusations and punishments of adultery. The study focuses on the analysis of symbolism, characterization, public punishment, and narrative irony, arguing that Hawthorne presents moral punishment as a social performance, rather than a genuine spiritual redemption. In the end, the novel depicts Puritan social judgement as hypocritical, gendered, ultimately aimed at social control not pursuing true ethics.
Keywords: Hypocrisy, Puritanism, Gendered punishment, Social control, Moral judgment, Shame
Cite this article
Ahmed Rasheed Majeed (2026). The Hypocrisy View in Puritan Society and Its Relationship with Adultery Punishment in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(5), 549-552. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-06
@article{Ahmed2026,
title = {The Hypocrisy View in Puritan Society and Its Relationship with Adultery Punishment in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter},
author = {Ahmed Rasheed Majeed},
journal = {Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies},
year = {2026},
volume = {2},
number = {5},
pages = {549-552},
doi = {10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-06},
url = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-06}
}Questions about this article
Who wrote this article?
Ahmed Rasheed Majeed.
Where and when was it published?
In Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, Volume 2, Issue 5, pages 549-552, published by EP Journals Group on 9 May 2026.
Is this article free to read?
Yes. It is open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) licence, so anyone can read, share and reuse it with attribution.
What is the DOI of this article?
10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-06 (https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-06).
How do I cite this article?
APA: Ahmed Rasheed Majeed (2026). The Hypocrisy View in Puritan Society and Its Relationship with Adultery Punishment in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(5), 549-552. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-06
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