The Theme of Defiance

The theme that I choose to explore and relate to from Scarlet letter is Defiance. I feel that this is a principle theme throughout this novel. There are many characters who embody this idea and work it into their characters. The puritanical society is one of compliance and piety. The mass opinions of the community and the power of the magistrates is exercised in order to try to keep people in their place and to make them behave in a way that is complacent to "God's wishes."
Look at the many examples of defiance we are given by Hawthorne. Rose embodies the very essence of defiance. …