Integrity In The Scarlet Letter And The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and The Crucible, by Arthur Miller , both share the theme of reputation and integrity. This book and play both take place in the life of Puritans. Hawthorne expresses him theme with symbols like the scarlet letter. Arthur expresses the theme within life situations that some puritans may have went through. The main character in The Scarlet Letter is Hester Prynne, she committed adultery and was part of her punishment was wearing the scarlet letter. One of the main characters in The Crucible was John Proctor. John was also accused of witchcraft, however it was not true. In The Crucible, when John Proctor was accused of witchcraft, he had the choice to claim that he was a witch or die. John decided that he would rather die than ruin his reputation. His reputation was more important that his wife and unborn child. In Act 4 John Proctor states “I have given you my soul, leave me my name (Act 4). John expresses that he cares about his reputation and he wants his name to be respected after he is dead. Knowing that he is still a good person, despite committing adultery, he sacrificed his life. …show more content…

When she wears this, everyone knows that she committed adultery. While her husband was in the army, she had sex with another man and got pregnant. The scarlet letter symbolizes how the world looks at her. It is the symbol of her reputation. “ Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast…- at her. Who had once been innocent, - as the figure, the body, the reality of sin” (Hawthorne 73). The author is explaining to the reader that her scarlet letter will ruin her reputation with people she do not

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