The Scarlet Letter/YMMV
- Alternate Character Interpretation- Pearl. The public, and even Hester at times, in the book sees her as a product of sin. She's probably a girl misunderstood by the whole community (who take every little "bad" thing she does and connects it to her being an illegitimate child) and brought up by a mother too distracted by her guilt to discipline her.
- Anvilicious - Basically all the symbolism.
- Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped- Sin has an ambiguous nature. A sin does not define evil.
- It Gets Better: The Customs House.
- Narm: In the film, the poor guy about to hang Dimmesdale gets shot by an Indian in the throat three times! And continues stumbling around in midst of the huge battle. It's almost a Overly Long Gag.
- Tear Jerker: A common, cliche ending in old literature (and yet), Arthur's last words to the crowd about the nature of sin and humanity with his daughter kissing him goodbye qualify.
- They Just Didn't Care: Demi Moore's film.
- Wangst - Dimmesdale, would you just confess already?! You're wasting away.
- Nicely averted with Hester. Although Hester is grieved and despondant at her place as an outcast, she gathers dignity to live and redeems herself gradually to her townsfolk -- she is forced to take responsibility, and so she does so. Dimmesdale, her obvious foil, wastes himself away.
- The Woobie: Arthur Dimmesdale may qualify. And poor Hester.
- Dimmesdale is arguably a Jerkass Woobie. What, with leaving Hester to be publicly ostracized, while he stands on the sidelines saying nothing almost the entire novel.