Sin Theme In Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter submerses the reader in the Puritan’s culture. The story involves the Puritans portrayal of the sins of a young woman. Although a difficult read, the book stirs the reader to obtain a high moral compass. Throughout the novel, Hawthorne uses the symbols of light and dark to depict good and evil among the characters, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a study of the effects of sin on the hearts and minds of the main characters, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth. Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth. Sin strengthens Hester, humanizes Dimmesdale, and turns Chillingworth into a demon.

Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale takes the easy way out and does not tell the community that he is the one that committed adultery with Hester Prynne, which led to more pain than he saved. Him and Hester Prynne committed adultery together and as a result of that, they have a

Reverend Dimmesdale was a renowned, prideful man stricken with sin and extreme guilt.  From the time Hester and Dimmesdale made love, he was grievous of his sin but he also felt a great love towards her.  Dimmesdale's stubborn pride troubled him greatly, and although he tried many times, he could not confess his sin to his religious followers.  Dimmesdale felt guilt so strongly that he scourged himself on his breast and patterned an “A” into his own flesh, yet he could not confess his sin until his grief grew so great it caused him to perish.  Reverend Dimmesdale's sin was greater than Hester's because he let his pride conflict with his repentance, and let his life be ruined by his anguish.

The partner of sin with Hester, Dimmesdale is a young minister who is very popular for preaching his enlightening sermons. Although Dimmesdale is seen in the light, that light is dimmed through the constant physiological manipulation brought forth from Chillingworth. One cannot live with so much guilt so Dimmesdale deals with it by self harm. Hawthorne illustrates a change in the minister, “His inward trouble drove him to practices more in accordance with the old, corrupted faith of Rome than with the better light of the church in which he had been born and bred.”. A change indeed one that haunts Dimmesdale to his eventual

Dimmesdale provides hope and aspiration to the community by serving as a devout minister, but in reality, he is truly evil after sinning with Hester. Dimmesdale is looked up to by the Puritan community, as the religious leaders also serve as political and social leaders. Many of the less fortunate members of society use his sermons as reprieve and justification for their lives. The community describes Dimmesdale as “a true priest, a true religionist, with the reverential sentiment largely developed, and an order of mind that impelled itself powerfully along the track of creed” (120). Even though to the

Dimmesdale has committed adultery with Hester Prynne and the consequence for his sin is that the guilt that becomes apart of him. Reverend Dimmesdale's struggle to cope with his guilt causes him to do very harmful things to himself. " Mr. Dimmesdale thus communed with himself, and struck his forehead with his hand" (Hawthorne 217). Dimmesdale has become so enraged with his guilt that he gets violent and abuses himself. The guilt that Dimmesdale experiences is unlike any other, the lasting effect of his sin causes an internal hatred within himself and it makes him afraid of confessing his sin because he is embarrassed by his actions.

Dimmesdale feels like a hypocrite, because he is portrayed as a pure man, but on the inside he is a sinner. Also, the more he tries to confess his sins, the more the congregation love his sermons. Dimmesdale even tries to reveal his inner self throughout the novel. In chapter 20 Dimmesdale wants to do bad things to show that he is impure, “it was only by the most careful self-control that the former could refrain from uttering certain blasphemous suggestions that rose into his mind” (207). The feeling of hypocrisy is driving Dimmesdale crazy, but Hester does not have this feeling.The reader sees that Dimmesdale is actually jealous of Hester, “Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret! Thou little knowest what a relief it is, after the torment of a seven years' cheat, to look into an eye that recognizes me for what I am!” (183) Hester does not have to deal with this guilt as much as Dimmesdale, because she was already publically punished. Everyone knows that she is a sinner, so she doesn’t have to hide it. In fact, after a couple of years, people began to see her as a saint, rather than a sinner. They even say that her scarlet letter stands for “able”. Dimmesdale’s whole life revolves around the shame and suffering of his sin, which is why he dies after he confesses his sin. However, because Hester’s sin is publically revealed, she only suffers for a couple of

When addressing his lover, Hester, at her public trial, he implores her passionately to reveal the identity of her lover, well knowing that it is himself. “Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him…through he were to step down from a high place” (63). While Hawthorne has the minister committing a sin in and of itself by requesting Hester to reveal the identity of the lover, the minister is also forcing Hester to commit another sin because of her knowledge—lying. The knowledge between the lovers results in undeniable sin for the both of them. Yet, Dimmesdale’s sin with Hester gives him insight into how to connect with his congregation. As the narrator states, “this very burden it was that gave him sympathies so intimate with the sinful brotherhood of mankind, so that his heart vibrated in unison with theirs.” (129). Hawthorne utilizes the paradox of a sinful minister to highlight Dimmesdale’s inner sin. Yet, Dimmesdale becomes a better preacher and arguably a better person through his fall into sin. He can relate to the masses, instead of being held up on his own pedestal. As such, Dimmesdale’s sin brings him knowledge.

On the other hand, the town reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, one of the most respected people in the town, is Hester’s fellow adulterer. Even though both Hester and Dimmesdale committed the same sin, Dimmesdale’s sin has a distinct difference because his sin is internal and he is forced to deal with amassing guilt. Although Dimmesdale lies to his congregation and refuses to reveal the truth, Dimmesdale delivers some of his most powerful sermons and sacrifices himself in order to preserve the

He is not strong like Hester was. His pride about his status in the community is so severe that he is willing to endure years of not only mental but physical torture until his dying hours. Once he confesses to the townspeople of his sins, he is free, his soul is pure once more, and he dies in peace. Roger Chillingworth, the husband of Hester Prynne, had been introduced in the beginning of the novel. It is told that he returns to Boston when Hester is put on the scaffold to be presented as a fallen woman, When he finds out that she has committed adultery, he makes it a priority of his to seek revenge on Hester’s lover.

In the world today, themes and symbolisms have played a major role in the development and presentation of past and present novels. These themes and symbolisms within a novel shape the overall story and often work hand in hand to convey its purpose and meaning. One such novel would include The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne; in this story, along with all his others, he has incorporated his three predominant, driving themes: sin, hypocrisy, and corruption. In The Scarlet Letter,

Nathaniel Hawthorne shows these themes throughout the actions and words of his characters, Dimmesdale and Hester. Repressed sin destroys the soul was a theme shown throughout the novel of Scarlet Letter. The townspeople are trying to get the name of the man out of Hester, while Hester seems to refuse. Nathaniel Hawthorne states, “Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him: for, believe me, Hester,

Throughout the book, Hawthorne shows us the story of Hester Pryne, a women who lives wiht the scarlet letter. As we see the story move along, we see how her daughter, Pearl Prynne, is connected as sin in The Scarlet Letter and from being the letter A itself, Pearl begins to become a open defiance to society. Hawthorne references her in these ways be imagining her as a bird, a rosebush, and a product out of sin.

As far as the townspeople know, Hester is the lone sufferer for one sin committed by two people. No one would ever guess that their minister, alone, is guilty of three major crimes: adultery, hypocrisy, and neglecting confession. His heart becomes so heavy with guilt, remorse, and sorrow that he punishes himself by fasting for days, whipping his own back. Some believe that this is what caused the scarlet "A" to mysteriously appear on his chest. The guilt that is a direct result of concealing his terrible sins is literally destroying him. Hawthorne writes, "No man, for any considerable period can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true." (196) Dimmesdale is learning this lesson the hard way. His inner-conscience longs to confess, but he has too much worldly wealth at stake. He successfully keeps his secret from the town until he realizes it has already killed him.