The Scarlet Letter Theme of Justice and Judgment

In the world of The Scarlet Letter, the inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay Colony have a finely tuned sense of justice based on a partnership of religion and law. When a citizen breaks the colony’s law, he is also breaking God’s law. While it is only through confession to the public that a sinner, Arthur Dimmesdale, finds peace, this conflation of God’s law with man’s law also creates an intolerant, authoritarian society that does not allow for human mistakes.

1. What is the difference between justice and judgment?
2. Why do the townspeople like to judge so much? What kinds of judgment do we see?
3. Does Hester ever judge others?

The townspeople in The Scarlet Letter crave justice, even at the expense of truth.

The most painful kind of judgment inflicted in this novel is self-judgment.