Sin
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
Once passionate, she is now somber and serious. Hester feels that she owes it to the community, thus forcing herself into a life of service to others. The way sin affects the lives of the characters in The Scarlet Letter is enlightening yet unsettling. But he will be known! - He will be known! - He will be known!" (69). 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. As all things do, this physical and mental stress takes its toll. Hester feels that her sin has taken away her morality and manifested the one good product of her shameful wrongdoing, her baby, Pearl. Chillingworth devotes his entire life to finding Hester's partner in crime and punishing him. Nonetheless, no matter how the sin is handled or dealt with, it will always leave its mark. Her plain gray clothes symbolize her temperament and disposition. Throughout the next years, the sin Hester committed changes her personality and identity. This foreshadows the sin that he commits, which is far greater than Hester's and Dimmesdale's. The sin is always with her, for when she leaves her town, she feels obligated to come back and fulfill her punishment. eves the letter has bestowed upon her. She had contained a precious !quality of womanhood that has now faded away.
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,
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