The Scarlet Letter Theme of Isolation

The Scarlet Letter tells the story of a society that is as good at excluding people as a middle school clique. We watch our heroine, Hester Prynne, live in isolation for years and years, cast out of Puritan society for having a child out of wedlock. Her isolation leads her to see her society in a new light and allows her to think outside of the box. Ironically, it seems characters who are the most appreciated by and involved in this society seem to be the most conflicted and alone.

1. Is anyone else besides Hester Prynne isolated? What about Dimmesdale?
2. How does Hester’s isolation affect her?
3. How does isolation affect Pearl?
4. Do the landscape and setting contribute to a feeling of isolation in this novel? What is Massachusetts Bay Colony like?

Isolation empowers Hester Prynne.

Hester loses a sense of her own humanity as a result of being cut off from society.