The road to salvation means forgiving yourself first before you expect others to forgive you. In the novel The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is shamed by her community because of her committed act of adultery. Hester decides that the only way to remain strong is to “sustain and carry” her burden forward “by the ordinary resources of her nature, or sink with it. She [can] no longer borrow from the future to help her through the present” (Hawthorne 74). Hester must accept herself in order to support and protect herself, but more importantly, her daughter Pearl, even if it means being punished by the society for as long as seven years for her sin. Hester is continuously “rebuked for her passion, strength, and vitality
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In her home, Hester stands in front of a mirror able to stare at her reflection proving that “temptation and her independence are far more important than any pre-established Puritan moral values” (Ucum 122). Although successful physically, the Puritan society is not able to isolate Hester mentally, as it cannot take away “her fond memories of her maiden years” (Kumar 103). Standing on the scaffold, Hester sees “her own face, glowing with girlish beauty, and illuminating all the interior of the dusky mirror in which she had been wont to gaze at it” (Hawthorne 51). Hester thinks about her childhood and how she was once beautiful and completely free of sin and guilt. Because Hester sees her childhood as pure, she was beautiful and able to look into a mirror all the time. Hester now sees herself as anything other than pure and beautiful and now finds it difficult to look in the mirror, although it is what she must do if she wants to be strong throughout her suffering. Secondly, being able to prove herself strong against the humiliation of her community, Hester uses her embroidering skills to embroider an elaborate, red “A” on the bosom of her clothes to symbolize “Adulteress,” however, throughout the novel, the meaning of the …show more content…
Even though a life of public repentance is extremely difficult for Hester to go through, it helps Hester own up to her sin and retain her sanity while Dimmesdale, who refuses to admit to being Pearl’s father, is losing his own sanity. Dimmesdale truthfully confesses to his congregation claiming he is “the worst of sinners” (Hawthorne 143). Although a confession in his eyes, Dimmesdale’s people will interpret his statement not as a confession, but as “an example, even a proof, of the minister’s humility and piety” (Pimple 201). Dimmesdale feels shame for his inability to own up to his sin, and admits that the judgment of God is too much for him to handle. Dimmesdale looks up to Hester to “[b]e though strong for [him]” and “[a]dvise [him] what to do” (Hawthorne 196). Hester suffered public humiliation for seven years when Dimmesdale eventually goes to her for help because he sees how strong she has become from her confession. Hester would rather suffer in public in order to eventually find self-acceptance rather than suffer indefinitely in private as Dimmesdale does. Dimmesdale portrays the example of how “self-image and face need not be congruent” because “instead of adjusting his face, he adjusts his society,” trying
In her home, Hester stands in front of a mirror able to stare at her reflection proving that “temptation and her independence are far more important than any pre-established Puritan moral values” (Ucum 122). Although successful physically, the Puritan society is not able to isolate Hester mentally, as it cannot take away “her fond memories of her maiden years” (Kumar 103). Standing on the scaffold, Hester sees “her own face, glowing with girlish beauty, and illuminating all the interior of the dusky mirror in which she had been wont to gaze at it” (Hawthorne 51). Hester thinks about her childhood and how she was once beautiful and completely free of sin and guilt. Because Hester sees her childhood as pure, she was beautiful and able to look into a mirror all the time. Hester now sees herself as anything other than pure and beautiful and now finds it difficult to look in the mirror, although it is what she must do if she wants to be strong throughout her suffering. Secondly, being able to prove herself strong against the humiliation of her community, Hester uses her embroidering skills to embroider an elaborate, red “A” on the bosom of her clothes to symbolize “Adulteress,” however, throughout the novel, the meaning of the …show more content…
Even though a life of public repentance is extremely difficult for Hester to go through, it helps Hester own up to her sin and retain her sanity while Dimmesdale, who refuses to admit to being Pearl’s father, is losing his own sanity. Dimmesdale truthfully confesses to his congregation claiming he is “the worst of sinners” (Hawthorne 143). Although a confession in his eyes, Dimmesdale’s people will interpret his statement not as a confession, but as “an example, even a proof, of the minister’s humility and piety” (Pimple 201). Dimmesdale feels shame for his inability to own up to his sin, and admits that the judgment of God is too much for him to handle. Dimmesdale looks up to Hester to “[b]e though strong for [him]” and “[a]dvise [him] what to do” (Hawthorne 196). Hester suffered public humiliation for seven years when Dimmesdale eventually goes to her for help because he sees how strong she has become from her confession. Hester would rather suffer in public in order to eventually find self-acceptance rather than suffer indefinitely in private as Dimmesdale does. Dimmesdale portrays the example of how “self-image and face need not be congruent” because “instead of adjusting his face, he adjusts his society,” trying