The Crucible and The Scarlett Letter

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In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, adultery is shown to be acceptable. Adultery is when one spouse cheats in a secluded fashion. After committing a severe sin, the adulteress or adulterer are punished and publicly humiliated. The characters in each book unquestionably display that infidelity is an approved act. Life is like a pen is an excellent analogy to prove such a bold statement. To understand the role of adultery being acceptable this essay aims to provide a discussion of being loyal, loving, and especially forgiving.
One aspect which illustrates adultery being acceptable can be identified as loyalty. Loyalty is presented between the characters in each book. In The Crucible Proctor is exceptionally loyal to Elizabeth, his wife. The reason Proctor is loyal to Elizabeth is because he goes to appeal Elizabeth during court. Proctor states, “I have known her,sir. I have known her”(Miller 49). Proctor makes this exclamation about committing lechery with Abigail. The fact Proctor admits to being an adulterer is greatly proving how loyal he actually is to Elizabeth. Proctor goes from defending Elizabeth to admitting he had pledged lechery. Proctor decides his good name is not as important as saving Elizabeth’s life. Also Proctor could have just forgotten all about Elizabeth and went to be by Abigail’s side, but he calls Abigail out on her crime instead. Knowing the odds were against him, Proctor still shamed himself in front of important townspeople of Salem, Massachusetts in hopes of saving Elizabeth. True loyalty found between Proctor and Elizabeth is most definitely seen upon reading the book and proves adultery can be perfectly acceptable in time. Loyalty is also shown between Hester a...

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...mmesdale for not admitting to being Pearl’s father, that really shows being a part of adultery is perfectly fine. Sure, Hester was unfaithful to her husband, but in the end the only thing that really matters is Hester is happy with Dimmesdale. As a matter of fact adultery is not a terrible thing because it brought two people together in the end.
Clearly, this essay has shown that the main factors which impact upon adultery being acceptable is being loyal, loving, and forgiveness. Adultery in all reality is actually a terrible thing and is frowned upon, but The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter prove adultery is acceptable in many ways. Life is like a pen, so any mistake made will never be able to be erased or taken back.

Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Simon, 2004. Print.
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Austin: Holt, 2005. Print.

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