* The death of [[spoiler:Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale]] is heartbreaking, especially given that [[spoiler:he dies in the arms of Hester Prynne, all their hopes of running off to England dashed... and then proceeds to tell her that no, they will never live together happily in heaven because "the law they broke, the sin here so awfully revealed" will surely condemn him to hell. Not to mention their A-marked grave]].
* A common, cliche ending in old literature [[NarmCharm (and yet)]], [[spoiler: Arthur's last words to the crowd about the nature of sin and humanity with his daughter kissing him goodbye]] qualify.
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