Essay About Mistakes In Scarlet Letter

Mistakes are an inevitable fact of life. As humans, everyone is expected to make some questionable decisions, but sometimes mistakes are viewed as better or worse in different circumstances. Due to the highly religious setting in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, many of the mistakes made by the characters were categorized as sins. In seventeenth century Boston, the Puritans viewed any misconduct as severe sins. Therefore, Hester Prynne’s act of adultery spoiled her reputation, with no hopes of ever recollecting respect. However, Hester took responsibility for her actions by wearing her scarlet “A” and protecting the father, Dimmesdale, who would have been killed for his actions. On the contrary, Roger Chillingworth committed a sin far greater than adultery. Roger Chillingworth associated with Dimmesdale under the pretences of being a medical genius. However, his medical knowledge had originated from his time spent with the Native Americans as a prisoner. He had ended up in the predicament while trying to make his way back to his wife, Hester, but when he returned home, he met Pearl, who was not his daughter. However, …show more content…
Along with constantly lying about his identity, he began administering an unnecessary amount of medicines to Dimmesdale, which kept him weak. Drugging Dimmesdale was exceptionally sinful because Chillingworth was working off of a hunch. He had no confirmation, at that point, of Pearl’s father, so the possibility that he was exacting retribution on an innocent man remained. Another sin was committed when Chillingworth decided to torment Hester and Dimmesdale by taking away their scapegoat. He discovered their plans to travel on a ship to Europe and offered to be the doctor on board. Chillingworth capitalized on his societal position, as a doctor, to seek revenge on the man, that he believed, stole his