Universal Truths of the Human Condition
The Scarlet Letter, although written in the 1850’s, continues to speak truly about many universal truths of the human condition. The Novel displays all-consuming effects of guilt on a sinner and how it can be worse than the punishment itself, although religion can guide a person, it can not guide a government, and that no person is without sin.
As displayed by Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, guilt can affect a person worse than the punishment for the crime. After committing adultery, Dimmesdale attempts to keep it hidden from the community for fear of execution. This fright of the punishment is more pertinent to him than his religion; however he eventually starts to realize he is a hypocrite for preaching …show more content…
Reverend Dimmesdale, a revered clergyman, is looked up to in Puritan society for being a “godly pastor”. He was thought to be appalled by seeing Hester, a member of his own congregation, commit such a travesty. In reality he participated in the affair, and abuses his position to easily deceive his followers and thus dodge the punishment for his sinful actions. This same effect can be seen with other revered people such as the Dalai Lama. He is looked up to by many as a humble man trying to free his people of Tibet people for their own good; however all he wants is a return to power. He and his fellow priests were living in luxury, whilst the rest of the people lived in poverty working for them. These people were so poor and maltreated that they were forced to resort to stealing food to have a survivable amount of food. Those who were caught were punished severely, using torture and mutilation which were standard practice, where as in Puritan society one could have had their hand cut of for the same crime. Both societies were based on religious views that promoted severe punishments on the peoples for relatively harmless crimes. These punishments could scar a person for life and give them no chance for redemption. Although Reverend Dimmesdale is a man of the Lord, he has the same basic needs and desires and fears that we all have. It is unrealistic to think anyones motives are always pure and
The Scarlet Letter, although written in the 1850’s, continues to speak truly about many universal truths of the human condition. The Novel displays all-consuming effects of guilt on a sinner and how it can be worse than the punishment itself, although religion can guide a person, it can not guide a government, and that no person is without sin.
As displayed by Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, guilt can affect a person worse than the punishment for the crime. After committing adultery, Dimmesdale attempts to keep it hidden from the community for fear of execution. This fright of the punishment is more pertinent to him than his religion; however he eventually starts to realize he is a hypocrite for preaching …show more content…
Reverend Dimmesdale, a revered clergyman, is looked up to in Puritan society for being a “godly pastor”. He was thought to be appalled by seeing Hester, a member of his own congregation, commit such a travesty. In reality he participated in the affair, and abuses his position to easily deceive his followers and thus dodge the punishment for his sinful actions. This same effect can be seen with other revered people such as the Dalai Lama. He is looked up to by many as a humble man trying to free his people of Tibet people for their own good; however all he wants is a return to power. He and his fellow priests were living in luxury, whilst the rest of the people lived in poverty working for them. These people were so poor and maltreated that they were forced to resort to stealing food to have a survivable amount of food. Those who were caught were punished severely, using torture and mutilation which were standard practice, where as in Puritan society one could have had their hand cut of for the same crime. Both societies were based on religious views that promoted severe punishments on the peoples for relatively harmless crimes. These punishments could scar a person for life and give them no chance for redemption. Although Reverend Dimmesdale is a man of the Lord, he has the same basic needs and desires and fears that we all have. It is unrealistic to think anyones motives are always pure and