Have attitudes to adultery changed since the times of The Scarlet Letter?

The reading of The Scarlet Letter does not leave the reader free from questions that
form in his head. We look at the plot from the perspective of modern times, which
appears to be a natural reflex. But we have to make an effort to tune into Hesters
situation and trust her inside feelings to understand her tragedy genuinely. This may be
caused by the cultural and social progress which has come since the times when the book
takes place. The book helps us to gain fresh look to adultery at the times of The Scarlet
Letter.
At the beginning I would like to point out that the plot of the book is played out in a
puritan society. Puritans were very conservative and invasive, especially with the matters
connected with morality. The women who comment on the sentence put on Hester Prynne
think that it was too mild for that kind of offence. Nowadays, adultery is not treated as a
crime. It is rather the question of personal morality. Nobody is stigmatized because of his
or her behaviour. Sometimes people may look askance at a mother when an illegitimate
child turns up.
Furthermore, single mothers are under the care of the state in most countries. They
obtain financial support from governments. But the matter has gone further: we have
partnership, cohabitation and even open relationships. Nowadays people treat
partnership as if it was matrimony. It is said that formalizing love is a wholly unnecessary
step. Lately, even the conservative religious societies are changing their perception of
adultery and becoming more liberal.
On the other hand, there are some people who still do not agree with the changes which
have come. There are whole countries which are under control of religious law, for
example Iran. Women are being punished harshly for adultery often without a trial. There
are also some deeply Catholic societies which still perceive adultery as a crime. But
women are not punished as seriously as in Islam which may prove the progress which has
come.

To sum up, attitudes to adultery have changed completely. Wearing the scarlet letter was
a hard punishment for Hester Prynne which is difficult to understand from the position of
modern reader. Nowadays, society does not stigmatize either unfaithful women or men.
It remains rather a question of personal morality or religion, not of the law.