The Scarlet Letter Theme of The Supernatural

Lots of crazy things go down in The Scarlet Letter – things like eyes that glow red, meteors in the shape of an “A,” witches that go riding their broomsticks. In many ways we readers learn to understand these events as being part of a fable or (dark) fairy tale. We’re not so much concerned with whether these supernatural occurrences are real or not, but we know they are telling us something important about the characters and the secrets they keep.

1. What role does Mistress Hibbons play in this story? Why is it significant that she is related to the Governor?
2. How do the characters in The Scarlet Letter feel about supernatural things and events?
3. What exactly does Mistress Hibbons do in those woods, eh?
4. Is Pearl supernatural?

In the world of this story, the supernatural is anything that cannot be explained.

Pearl’s eerie intelligence and elfish ways are just a product of being excluded from society. She just doesn’t have any social skills.