theme

The women outside the courthouse bitterly condemn Hester. They speculate that Hester would not have received such a light sentence for her crime if they had been the judge and one even advocates death for Hester. This scene represents the validation Puritans receive from condemning other people as less pious than themselves. The women in particular likely feel a burning jealousy that Hester was able to experience true passion, something that they can only dream about.