Hester's Mistakes In Scarlet Letter

When children are growing up, adults always instruct them to be candid and be themselves. However, as people grow up, they become more and more reluctant to freely show themselves to the world because they want to hide their mistakes. In The Scarlet Letter, the author Nathaniel Hawthorne describes various characters’ lives after committing a mistake. While Dimmesdale chooses to keep his sins to himself for most of his life, Hester boldly confesses her folly and takes the rebuke. Though some may judge one’s past errors, people should show their true selves to the world because people are more likely to find happiness in life when they are being honest.
Hiding one’s identity ultimately prevents one from finding self-fulfillment in life. Dimmesdale …show more content…
Though the community initially ostracizes her and calls her a hussy, Hester is able to rebuild her reputation through charity work. She even transforms the connotation of her scarlet letter into a symbol of her good works: “Individuals in private life, meanwhile, had quite forgiven Hester Prynne for her frailty; nay, more, they had begun to look upon the scarlet letter as the token, not of that one sin” (168). While the commmunity abashes her for committing adultery, the townsmen gradually recognizes her benevolent nature and forgives her. Hester is able to live a respectable life and does not live a hypocritical life like Dimmesdale. She does not deceive the public into believing that she is somebody who she is not, so she can feel worthy of her societal standing and be grateful of what she …show more content…
Dimmesdale felt an immediate emotional relief as soon as he reveals his sin to the community. When Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl, his mind is at ease. He asks Hester “Is not this better than what we dreamed of in the forest?” (263) because he realizes that hiding himself from the public is more torturous than valiantly declaring his worst sin. Even if he does return to Europe with Hester, he would still be as dejected because he would still hold onto his guilt. Through taking responsibility for the affair, Dimmesdale releases his guilt. He understands the consequences of claiming Pearl as his child, but his spiritual emancipation from guilt far outweighs the potential punishments he may receive. People’s happiness is often not decided by how others view them but rather how they view themselves. By demonstrating all aspects of oneself to the world, one can not only be freed from ponderous emotional burdens, but start a new life as