Which feature of gothic writing does this passage from nathaniel hawthorne's the scarlet letter most illustrate? the stigma gone, hester heaved a long, deep sign, in which the burden of shame and anguish departed from her spirit. o exquisite relief! she had not know the weight, until she felt the freedom?!

I believe the correct answer is: emotional guilt.

This passage from historical fiction novel "The Scarlet Letter: A Romance" written by an American author Nathaniel Hawthorne's in which he explores the theme of legalism, sin and guilt best illustrates the emotional guilt which is one of the features of Gothic writing style in literature (also known as Dark Romanticism).