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."