Final answer:
Hawthorne's novel 'The Scarlet Letter' critiques Puritan society, highlighting issues of hypocrisy, repression, legalism, and fatalism as central themes which underscore the story's tragic events and character struggles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Criticism of Puritanism in The Scarlet Letter
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, one of the central criticisms is hypocrisy within Puritan society. The protagonist, Hester Prynne, is publicly shamed and forced to wear the titular scarlet letter 'A' for adultery. Yet, the father of her child, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, is a respected Puritan minister who avoids public condemnation due to his secret sin. This disparity in treatment exposes the double standards and hypocrisy inherent in the Puritan community. Hawthorne also touches upon repression, as characters like Hester and Dimmesdale are forced to repress their true selves and desires in adherence to strict societal norms.
Legalism is another critique; Puritans' focus on rigid moral laws overshadows the individuals' need for compassion and understanding. Lastly, fatalism in Puritan belief is criticized through the inevitable unfolding of tragic events in the novel, suggesting that individuals are powerless against predestined outcomes.