The Scarlet Letter
The book The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a book about sin and its consequences. In The Scarlet Letter there are four characters that fall into the grasp of sin and feel its everlasting consequences. There is Hester and her daughter Pearl who learn what it is like to be an outcast of society because of the wrongs Hester commits. Then there is a preacher named Dimmesdale who must hide his sin for fear of execution, and he finds that the guilt of sin is a tough load to bear. Finally there is a man whose name is Chillingworth, and he finds himself so angry about Dimmesdale having an affair with his wife, that he is consumed by hate. All of these characters feel the effects of sin, and they also learn that they must face the consequences of sin. Hester and Pearl are outcasts in Boston because the townspeople do not realize that no one is without sin, and the townspeople are in denial about there own sin. Hester also faces losing her daughter because of her sin, and to her the thought of losing her daughter is the worst thing that could happen. When Hester is brought in front of the townspeople one woman says to her friends " I'll tell ye a piece of my mind. It would be greatly for the public behoof, if w
What think ye, gossips? If the hussy stood up for judgement before us five, that are now here in a knot together, would she come off with such a sentence as the worshipful magistrates have awarded? Marry, I trow not!" (Hawthorne 48). This statement made by Chillingworth is designed to remind Dimmesdale of his hidden sin. He also indicates he is happy Hester is in so much shame, and that he takes great delight in it. Over time Chillingworth will slowly cause Dimmesdale to be in a lot of pain, and will take revenge upon him by constantly reminding Dimmesdale of his hidden sin. Chillingworth convinces the town leadership to make Dimmesdale move in with him (Hawthorne 112). Hester and Pearl feel the consequences of sin when they are outcast by the townspeople, and when Hester almost loses Pearl because of her wrong doings. When Chillingworth takes medicine to Hester while she in prison, and she thinks he wants to kill her he says, " Dost thou know me so little, Hester Prynne? Are my purposes so shallow? Even if I imagine a scheme of vengeance, what could I do better for my object than to let thee live, than to give thee medicines against all harm and peril of life, so that this burning shame may still blaze upon thy bosom?" (Hawthorne 68). Chillingworth has also been responsible for making Dimmesdale's feelings of guilt more painful. However, Hester convinces the governor that she should not lose her child because she wants to teach her child not to make the same mistake she did. Hester also faces losing Pearl because of her sin when she goes to the governor's mansion to give the governor his gloves she made for him. Reverend Dimmesdale feels the consequences of sin more than any other character in the book. It could be shame, hate, or even death, but that there are many different consequences of sin. This open wound makes his body keep getting weaker and weaker.
Common topics in this essay:
Hester Prynne,
Hester Pearl,
Dimmesdale Chillingworth,
Chillingworth Reverend,
Scarlet Letter,
Dimmesdale Dimmesdale,
Eventually Dimmesdale,
Hester Dimmesdale's,
Reverend Dimmesdale,
Hester Chillingworth,
consequences sin,
hester pearl,
scarlet letter,
sin hester,
consequences sin shame,
dimmesdale feels,
feel consequences,
hidden sin,
sin chillingworth,
dimmesdale hidden,
guilt sin,
sin shame hate,
feel consequences sin,
dimmesdale hidden sin,
|
Acceptance Essays
