Foster’s chapter 6 talks about how the Bible has an influence on literature. It’s not so much the religious aspect but rather the common themes that are in the Bible that authors use throughout their work. Foster uses the examples of betrayal, denial, plagues, floods, and serpents that poets have drawn from the Bible to use in their work. Most of the literary examples he used in the chapter I had not read so making a connection to the Scarlet Letter helped me out the most. There are several different biblical themes that are used in the novel.

Adultery:       Hester commits adultery to have Pearl, for this sin she is forced to wear the scarlet letter on her chest. It is strongly stressed that her actions are wrong and an act of sin.

Betrayal:        First we see Chillingsworth experience betrayal by Hester when she has a child with Dimmesdale. I believe we also see it by the Puritan community. Yes, Hester has sinned by committing adultery however they completely alienate her from society for her wrongdoing. Based on biblical teachings her community should have never abandoned her.

Denial:           Dimmesdale is in denial with his part with Hester. Although he comes to terms with it near the end of the book with Hester and Pearl, he still struggles through the majority of the book of admitting it to himself and to the community

via Foster (6, 7.