Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), an American novelist and short-story writer, was a master of allegory and symbolism. His Puritan background is evident in much of the fiction that explores the themes of guilt, sin, and morality. The Scarlet Letter (1850) won him an everlasting fame. The novel examines the individual and collective consciousness under the pressure of anguish and suffering. The Scarlet Letter is marked by an introspective depth and moral earnestness. This is Hawthorne’s attempt to express his feelings of atonement for the wrong and injustice of his Puritan ancestors. As in most of Hawthorne’s work, the main theme in The Scarlet Letter, is that of sin and its effects both on the individual and on society. Regarding The Scarlet Letter: A Twice-Told Tale, he explains that part of the reason this sin is so taxing on the both of them is because of the weight that their society places on it. ( Bercovitch, Sacvan. 1996 ). Key words: American novelist, master of allegory, Puritan background, anguish and suffering etc.