Teenage fathers are not similarly sent away, or encouraged to finish their high school educations at schools specifically designed for teenage fathers. Even sexually active teens whose activities have not resulted in pregnancy are able to continue along their educational lives in a normal social fashion, because their 'sin' is not revealed to the adult community in such an obvious fashion. This sort of irrational attitude towards unwanted sexuality, or regarding it as an infection rather than a natural part of human existence, parallels the Puritan community's treatment of Hester. It is also reflected in contemporary fears of distributing condoms, educating students about birth control, or providing adequate information about how to deal with unplanned sex and pregnancies, like using the 'morning after' pill or abortion. The idea that merely possessing sexual knowledge generates the common, human impulse of sexual desire, and even having the tools to engage in sexually responsible or knowledgeable behavior is somehow tainted, may further be seen as a reflection of America's...

Many people lie, cheat, and steal. However, a white collar office worker who steals office supplies from his or her company might see a teenager who shoplifts from a convenience store as morally wrong, and deserving of formal, legal punishment, while the office worker sees his or her pilferage as justified, 'because the company is so big, and I work so hard.' The same person who cheats on his or her taxes might rage at a son or daughter caught cheating on a test.
None of this, of course, is to excuse immoral behavior, or to justify teenage or even Hester's transgressions as 'correct.' But it is important to have a balanced attitude towards sexuality in light of other moral offenses, and to remember the Biblical precept not to judge others too harshly, lest you be judged by the same inflexible moral standards yourself, someday.

Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. 1850. Online edition. [28 Oct 2006] http://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/sl07.html