American Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What is the moral lesson explored in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter (1850)?

1. The power of love

2. The consequences of sin

3. The importance of education

4. The value of friendship

The correct answer is: The consequences of sin

Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter explores the consequences of sin, making option B the correct choice. While love may be a theme in the novel, it is not the central moral lesson. Education and friendship, while important themes, are also not explored as deeply as the consequences of sin throughout the novel. It is the public shaming and punishment of the main character, Hester Prynne, for her sin of adultery that serves as the primary moral lesson in the novel. This is shown through the way her sin affects not only herself, but also her daughter and the community, and through the eventual redemption and forgiveness she finds. Overall, the moral lesson of the novel centers around the consequences and repercussions of giving in to our own desires and committing sins.