Redemption In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

Demise is Easier Than Salvation Achieving salvation is not as easy as A, B, C or 1, 2, 3, as it requires a lot of tenacity, courage, and a genuine desire for redemption. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s explores the two different outcomes of sin—salvation and demise. Roger Chillingworth struggles with a revenge that consumes him, Arthur Dimmesdale deals with an overpowering amount of guilt, and Hester struggles daily with isolation and solitude, all of these a results of sin. Each of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s characters face the consequences of sins that could steer them towards their ultimate demise; however, the Scarlet Letter shows that even the most abhorrent sinners can receive salvation if they wish to receive it. Revenge gave purpose to Roger Chillingworth’s life, it consumed his every thought and action throughout the entirety of the novel; unfortunately, his vindictiveness tarnished his character, and irrevocably …show more content…
While Dimmesdale does hide his transgressions from the Puritan community, Dimmesdale conclusively offers repentance to the people at the end of the novel. Many times we witness Hawthorne use the sun as a representation of innocence or virtue, here we see the sun shine upon Dimmesdale metaphorically illustrating his sins being forgiven and his virtue being returned to him. The author, Hawthorne, expresses his belief in fallen man’s salvation by saying, “The sun, but little past its meridian, shone down upon the clergyman, and gave distinctness to his figure, as he stood out from all the earth to put in his plea of guilty at the bar of Eternal Justice,” when depicting the moment of Arthur Dimmesdale’s public repentance (Hawthorne 249). This showcases that even Arthur Dimmesdale, a fallen minster, has the ability to achieve salvation if there is a genuine ache for