Both The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, share a universal theme. Knowing too much of anything can be a weakness. This theme applies to both pieces, for in The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale are all internally battling the secrets they know about each other. Similar to The Crucible, Abigail Williams and John Proctor both know they are involved in the act of adultery, and both characters use that information against each other.

The Scarlet Letter explores how knowing too much information can result in chaos, and even lead to death. Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale commit adultery but only Hester is found guilty. No one knows who the other adulterer is; therefore, Dimmesdale has to hide his own guilt internally. Hester's unknown husband, Roger Chillingworth, comes back...