What are the lesson(s) that we can learn from the novel by Hawthorne, 'The Scarlet Letter"
             The main theme of the story is that covering up ones sins and guilt causes more pain and agony. This is occurs in the life of Arthur Dimmesdale, who was a well-known minister among the Puritan community. For seven years after he commits adultery with Hester Prynne, the wife of Chillingworth, he never reveals it even though his partner in sin did. In his despair and guilt of conscience he felt lost and suffered much agony. Often times in the story he put his hand over his heart in pain and this was a symbol of the hidden scarlet letter he bears. For instance, after he tries to compel Hester in the first scaffold scene, to confess the father of the child he leans "over the balcony, with his hand upon his heart".
             Dimmesdale has heart problems and the people became aware of it, so they try to get Chillingworth to provide treatment for him, but he declines at first saying, "I need no medicine." The author then notes, "A man burdened with a secret should especially avoid the intimacy of his physician." Dimmesdale's life became really difficult to live because no matter what good he achieves, his sin to him is too serious that it would return to haunt him. This is further proven when "He longed to speak out from his own pulpit at the full height of his voice, and tell the people what he was...utterly a pollution and a lie!" Here Dimmesdale professes in his own heart that he is a hypocrite among his people and that he wishes so much to reveal his sin with the belief that it will give his soul great relief.
             In addition, Dimmesdale asks Hester in the forest after seven years, "Hast thou found peace?" Hester responds with a grin which was sign enough that she was doing just fine. She on the other hand asks Dimmesdale the same question and he responds, "Hester, I am most miserable!"...