Effects of Individual Sin
How far would a person go to conceal guilt? In Nathaniel Hawthornes, The
Scarlet Letter, some would go further than others. The three main characters in the story
are all sinners, yet only one faced the true consequences. Hester’s sin strengthened her,
Dimmesdales sin destroyed him, and Chillingworth’s sin corrupted him.
Hester’s wrongdoing did the complete opposite, and it empowered her. She was
an extremely ardent woman in many ways. When she proceeded to carry out her
punishment of standing on the scaffold, the town beadle went to push her out in front of
the townspeople but “…she repelled him by an action marked with natural dignity…”
(60) She simply accepted her punishment with a great deal of self confidence, and carried
it out to the fullest. Also, as a remembrance of Hester’s, and Dimmesdales offense,
Pearl was born. Each and every day Pearl was a constant reminder of what they have
done. Also, Hester felt she could teach Pearl about the mistake she had made as she
… “layed her finger on the red token.” (110) Furthermore, Hester had the choice of
leaving Boston, but she knew her sin would follow her. Therefore, she carried out her
transgression where it was performed. Contrary to Dimmesdale, Hester suffered her
aftermath under the public eye, while he suffered his within himself, and his soul.
The Term Paper on Scarlet Letter Summaries Hester Dimmesdale Pearl
Chapter Summaries Chapter 1 This chapter briefly introduces seventeenth-century Boston, where a group of Puritans stand in front of a somber prison or a black flower of civilized society, which seems older that its age. The area around the prison is gray and gloomy. Decay and ugliness are apparent in the author's descriptions, the only exception is a lovely wild rosebush, whose origin is ...
Regardless, any man who attempts to conceal a secret , which will determine the
placement of his soul after death is practically handing the devil the option to destroy his
being. The devil took that option, and utterly obliterated him to nothing. Day by day,
piece by piece, little by little, he has slowly transformed into a different person. Though,
he attempted to find remorse, it wasn’t nearly enough to truly fulfill his repent.
And thus, while standing on the scaffold, in this vain show of expiation, Mr.
Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror of mind, as if the universe were
gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast right over his heart. (144)
Hence, it seems as though he was trying to make himself suffer for his sin, but it didn’t
fulfill it. Theoretically, it seems as though throughout this tough time in his life, he
wasn’t strong enough to get through it without confessing, and he wasn’t valorous
enough to confess. It was not until he would be about to die that he concedes to the
public. During his confession “he tore away the ministerial band from before his
breast.(and) It was revealed!” (238) Here, Dimmesdale has revealed the scarlet mark he
inflicted onto his bare chest. One may assume that some of Dimmesdales guilt stems
back to Chillingworth always questioning him, and one may infer correctly.
With Chilingworth constantly interrogating Dimmesdale about sin, he is adding to
the destruction of Dimmesdales soul. Chillingworths constant suspicion of Dimmesdales
sin corrupted him into such a state of mind, one would believe he was not human
anymore, but merely a symbol. Just like Pearl was Hesters constant reminder,
Chilingworth was Dimmesdales. Chillingwroth would perpetually question the reverend
mentioning nonsense like “a sickness, a sore place, if we may so call it, in your spirit,
hath immediately its appropriate, manifestation in your bodily frame. Would you,
therefore, that your physician heal the bodily evil? How may this be, unless you first lay
open to him the wound or trouble in your soul.” (134) It is obvious he just wants the
The Essay on Hester S Advice Dimmesdale Sin Act
An Explanation of the Basis for the Detrimental Effect of Hester s Advice on Dimmesdale After committing the sin of adultery, Dimmesdale s physical and mental condition begins to deteriorate. When Hester asks him to run away from the situation they are in, he begins the final descent to his demise. Initially, the idea lifts his spirits. Eventually he feels compelled to confess when he realizes ...
answers, and he cares not for anyone’s feelings but his own, and this makes his sin the
worst of all.
Though Hester and Dimmesdale did commit adultery, what Chilingworth did to
Dimmesdale is far worse. Hester knew that what she did was out of pure love, and she
also knew she did something immoral, therefore she accepted her punishment.
Dimmesdale, uninformed of the love his sin possessed, he turned it into a completely
iniquitous commodity, and he saw only the bad in it. Also, by not confessing, what he
thought was a terrible sin, corrupted his entire being, since it was trapped inside him for
so long. Chillingworths wrongdoing turned him parsimonious, and vengeful. In
conclusion, no matter what your sin is, big or small, by not confessing, or realizing it, one
will turn vitriolic, or cowardly in the end.
