The Scarlet Letter, is a work of deep psychological drama, exploring legalism, sin, guilt and revenge. Hawthorne's masterpiece has been admired by numerous writers since its publication. Henry James concludes: "It is beautiful, admirable, extraordinary, it has in the highest degree an indefinable purity and lightness of conception ... One can often return to it, it supports familiarity and has the inexhaustible charm and mystery of great works of art.