Final answer:
Both 'The Scarlet Letter' and 'Rappaccini's Daughter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne share a strong thematic similarity in exploring the themes of sin and its consequences, reflecting Hawthorne's literary concerns with morals and the human condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the strongest similarities between The Scarlet Letter and Rappaccini’s Daughter is that both stories explore themes of sin and its consequences. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne delves into the impact of sin on the individual and the community by focusing on Hester Prynne's punishment for adultery.
Conversely, in Rappaccini’s Daughter, the story is a dark allegorical tale that intertwines human manipulation of nature with the devastating effects of seeking knowledge without heeding moral boundaries, similar in consequence to sin. Both stories are set in a past era and provide rich explorations of human nature, compassion, and societal judgments concerning moral transgressions.
This thematic similarity is a clear indicator of Hawthorne’s literary preoccupations and his view on the human condition.