Dialectical Journal 42

But Here…Satan’s Snare (PG 103)

Here again is an allusion to Mistress Hibbons. Hawthorne is saying that if this allusion to the witch is parable then witchcraft isn’t real, which then condemds the society for putting innocent people to death. This is showing how dramatic the Puritan society was and just because they believed something they would fight for it and put innocent people to death. This is suggesting that although Hester did Sleep with Dimmesdale her crime was not as minor as it should have been and that once again the puritans did the wrong thing following this so calles religion that was supposed to be just and safe.