Sin in The Scarlet Letter
Sin is the main theme in The Scarlet Letter. All of the characters in the book are somehow affected by the sin of adultery. The three main characters are the most widely affected, and their whole lives are molded by the way they deal with the sin. The sin surrounds, encloses, and strangles them. There is no escaping from its harsh consequences. For Chillingworth, the terrible wrongdoing molds his whole personality in its likeness. For Dimmesdale, it totally deteriorates him both physically and mentally. On the other hand, for Hester, it has freed her soul from the chains of confinement in the old, Puritan town where she lived. Hester Prynne's sin, adultery, brings upon her the penalty of wearing the scarlet letter "A". Her scarlet token liberates her more than it punishes her. First, Hester's soul is freed by her admission of her crime. Secondly, by enduring her earthly punishment, Hester is assured of a place in the heavens. Finally, her identity is defined by the ignominious "A", for the letter makes Hester the woman that she is; it gives her roots, character, and a uniqueness to her being that sets her apart from the other Puritans. The scarlet letter is indeed a blessing to Hester Prynne, more than the curse she beli
Dimmesdale should have been with Hester seven years ago, but though he never receives a punishment from the government as Hester does, he punishes himself day and night. He suspects Dimmesdale and so becomes his doctor and moves in with him. Dimmesdale does not confess until seven years after the crime takes place. She had contained a precious quality of womanhood that has now faded away. He is tortured with guilt in his heart, and carries out prolonged vigils, fasts, and other physical damage to himself. Her plain gray clothes symbolize her temperament and disposition. Over the seven years, Dimmesdale becomes very ill. This foreshadows the sin that he commits, which is far greater than Hester's and Dimmesdale's. Once a beautiful woman, Hester now looks plain and drab. When he arrives, she is standing on a scaffold with a baby in her arms. Clearly, the sin affected Dimmesdale's life, but the sin played an even greater role in the life of the man that was truly shaped by this huge transgression. The sin Hester has committed has made her think that death would be an easy way out and that she deserves little, for she says, "I have thought of death, have wished for it, would have even prayed for it, were it fit that such as I should pray for anything" (77). Hester feels that she owes it to the community, thus forcing herself into a life of service to others. The effect of his great sin on his character is that of a complete transformation to evil. The reason for his illness is not disease, but the effect of sin and guilt in his heart.
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