Sin and Redemption of Scarlet Letter Essay

1. Mistress Hibbins is a widow and lives with her brother Governor Bellingham. She is known to be a witch who rides in the forest. She appears in the book a number of times to show the hypocrisy and evil inside of the society. Governor Bellingham often discusses with the other town fathers about situations in town. Which also included taking Pearl away from Hester and have her be raised by foster parents since they were unsure if Hester could properly school her child considering her sin by saying, “The point hath been weightily discussed, whether we, that are of authority and influence, do well discharge our consciences by trusting an immortal soul, such as there is in yonder child, to the guidance of one who hath stumbled and fallen amid

Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne relays the theme of guilt using symbolism that is portrayed in the scarlet letter itself and in the main character’s daughter. The story follows the protagonist, Hester Prynne, who commits adultery with the town minister, Arthur Dimmesdale, producing the child she raises on her own named Pearl. Guilt is a common theme for the duration of the novel which covers all aspects of the shame each character feels. These particular dimensions of shame come specifically from different objects in the novel and what they represent.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, is a compassionate yet riveting piece of English literature that supports the movement for equality of suppressed women during a most tumultuous time during the 1800’s. Hawthorne’s use of emotional diction and imagery throughout his novel employs a deplorable tone upon the story. It serves as a stark representation of an imaginative yet realistic example of the indifference of men and women during these changing times. Deeply held Puritanical beliefs led countless of people to believe that individuals, especially women, who committed sins of any type would never reach heaven upon their passing. Men, on the other hand, were judged less severely if accused of a crime. Hester Prynne, the

The concept of sin and redemption is one that many people interpret differently. In “The Scarlet Letter,” Arthur Dimmesdale, a reverend who committed adultery with a woman named Hester Prynne, found his own opinions of sin and redemption to change as he underwent his process of moving past his own mistakes. Although Dimmesdale initially argues that sins may be redeemed through publicly admitting fault of all parties involved and facing earthly punishment, he ultimately comes to suggest that repentance through a divine figure is the true path to redemption. In his first speech from the pulpit, Dimmesdale makes an argument that one is able to redeem himself through a public admission of sin.

In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne exhibits how three very unique characters are evidently brought together by the sins that they have perpetrated and how they manage to perform acts of atonement in the puritanical Boston society. Hester Prynne sins by committing the shocking transgression of adultery. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, who as well engages in adultery with Hester, abandons her and their daugher because of his own cowardice and hypocrisy. Roger Chillingworth grows to become a maleficent being who tries to corrupt the very soul of Reverend Dimmesdale. Although Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale do sin greatly, it is Roger Chillingworth who sins to the most ferocious degree.

Sin affects us all and with sin comes punishment. For example, in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s dark romantic novel The Scarlet Letter, New England punishment is described as cruel and highly unreasonable, as seen in the whipping of disobedient children (Hawthorne ch.2 par.1). The Puritans especially had questionable antics towards anyone who dared to disagree with their religious views. This was seen in the banishment of Anne Hutchison, in the November of 1637; she was accused of blasphemy (People and Ideas par.7). Not only do punishments chastise their victims physically, they also influence their social and spiritual lives as well.

Sin is something humans are aware of but sometimes forget how much of an effect it can have on their lives. The different ways people go about obtaining sin in their hearts and minds vary, but no matter how severe the act committed is, the consequence sin has on someone is equally powerful. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne uses adultery as a way to show the power sin has through a woman named Hester Prynne. Hester Prynne is a young woman who commits adultery with the minister of Boston, Arthur Dimmesdale, and conceived a child named Pearl. Throughout the novel, the sin of committing adultery affects everyone involved. The way Hawthorne conveys sin throughout the novel makes people wonder if their sins are impacting themselves and

Furthermore, Hawthorne also expresses the belief that Puritans are intolerant, specifically in terms of sin and punishment. Their punishments often resulted in guilt, isolation and a desire for redemption or acceptance into society. In the instance that a sin or a crime is committed, Puritans demand the sinners or criminals to confess publicly, and they are met with a severe punishment. “The slightest offense...met with the same ‘solemnity of demeanor’ as the most awful, “as befitted a people amongst whom religion and law were almost identical’ ” (Mills 84).

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, various forms of sin are expressed through the characters of Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and Arthur Dimmesdale. With evidence

“Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait which your worst may be inferred!” (177) This quote was explained by Hawthorne to explain that humans should wear their weaknesses on their sleeves so they can realize their weaknesses and form them into their strengths. Nathanial Hawthorne attempted to point out that even though Hester wore her Scarlett letter proudly, the townspeople would rather hide them, and point out their problems onto other people.

The Scarlet Letter is filled with victories and losses, all the while following a woman and her daughter through this rigorous tale filled with sin and hardships. One of the ten commandments in the bible is “Thou shalt not commit adultery”. Nathaniel Hawthorne clearly explains this topic by navigating through the 24 chapters using literary devices, biblical references, and rhetorical devices to truly get the point across.

In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne shows us an essentially legalistic Puritan society with its inhabitants adhering to strict moral codes, and punishing and isolating those who fail to conform to its religious, and social laws. To them, sin is sin: it has to be punished publicly and harshly. But, the narrator disagrees and throughout the novel, he emphasizes grace and forgiveness for sins through faith in a religious society. We can observe from our three main characters in the novel, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth their ability to forgive and not to forgive. Our protagonist, Hester Prynne, struggles to work against the discrimination of the Puritan community and her ill-fated scarlet letter- a letter A to symbolize

To “be true,” in terms of The Scarlet Letter, one must outwardly show the secret of his identity (Male 325). However, a common characteristic of all people is to hide their sins in secrecy. In The Scarlet Letter, the effects of hidden sin and revealed sin are exemplified through the lives of Hester Prynne, Pearl and Arthur Dimmesdale. Together Prynne and Dimmesdale commit an act of adultery against Chillingworth, which forces Prynne to admit her sins to the community. While Prynne’s open conviction of sin cause her to meet ignominy and scorn, it allows her to gain the forgiveness of society. Even though Pearl does not commit her own sin, she is affected by the sin of her mother. Dimmesdale keeps his sin of adultery hidden. This gives him a sense of guilt that causes inward anguish, ultimately leading to his death. Surprisingly, many characters created by different authors have similar traits to the characters created by Hawthorne. In fact, what is true for all characters is that the effects of guilt and hidden sin are worse and less honorable than the effects of public criticism and revealed sin.

Puritan society placed great importance upon a person 's reputation. Without an honorable reputation a person is not worthy of respect from others in their society. Characters in this novel go through their lives struggling with themselves trying to cope with the guilt and shame associated with their actions. In Nathaniel Hawthorne 's novel, The Scarlet Letter, he shows the lasting effect that sin has on Hester and Dimmesdale.

"The happiness of the wicked passes away like a torrent!" This quote from Jean Baptiste Racin summarizes The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne in one sentence. The novel's main focus is on three main characters and how the sins they commit affect their lives in the strict Puritan town of Boston around the year 1642. Hawthorne was very knowledgeable of his Puritan ancestry and shows it by incorporating some important thoughts and traditions into this story about sin and confession. Throughout the novel, the physical, social, mental and emotional changes that result from sin in the lives of the characters are never positive and the outcome of their spiritual