The Scarlet Letter: Sin, Isolation, and ReunionNathaniel Hawthorne uses setting, plot, and characters to develop the theme of sin, isolation, and of the meeting in his novel, The Scarlet Letter. In this novel, Hawthorne uses the scaffold as well as other places in the setting to develop this theme. It develops the plot by having one character torment or act as the conscience of another to develop the climax and resolution. The characters help develop this theme by tormenting the other characters and never letting them forget the sin they committed, which then drives them further into isolation. Hawthorne uses the setting to develop the theme of sin, isolation, and reunion. One of the main places in the context where he uses this process is scaffolding. The scaffold is used in the novel as a place to show sin at the beginning of the story when Hester is depicted there. Also during this scene, this was used to isolate him from the rest of the community. Then later in the story it is used again when Arthur stands up on the platform of the scaffold and gives a false penance, which pushes him further into isolation. Then, at the end of the story, it is used again to reunite Arthur with himself, the community, and God before he dies. It is also used in this scene to reunite Pearl with herself, making her normal. He also used the cottage where Hester lived as a place of seclusion for her. The cottage was just outside the community sphere. It was also on barren land where nothing grew. The forest was also a major place of incitement to sin. This was where the Black Man lived and if you signed his book, you would wear his sign on your chest. It was not only a place of sin, but also a place of isolation. Isolation in the Forest occurred when Hester met Arthur in the forest hoping to achieve a reunion, but instead they fell further into isolation. The use of settings greatly structured how the theme of sin, isolation and reunion was born. The plot was used to develop the theme of sin, isolation and reunion. The plot has five basic parts: conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This is called intrigue.