Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter explores the nature of sin and redemption, especially through the character of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a beloved young minister in the seventeenth-century Puritan town of Boston. Contrary to his moral standing as a religious leader, Dimmesdale has secretly committed adultery with Hester Prynne, a young married woman who has come to Boston ahead of her husband. When she becomes pregnant, the Puritan officials discover her infidelity and brand her as an adulteress by forcing her to wear a scarlet letter A. Hester, however, does not reveal Dimmesdale as her partner in sin. When Hester’s husband Roger Chillingworth unexpectedly arrives, he discovers Hester’s adultery and vows revenge on her lover.
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After finishing his Election Sermon, he reveals his sin to the entire Puritan society: “‘People of New England!’ cried he … struggling up out of a fathomless depth of remorse and woe … ‘behold me here, the one sinner of the world! At last!—at last!—I stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood … But there stood one in the midst of you, at whose brand of sin and infamy ye have not shuddered!” (232). Here, Dimmesdale’s consciousness of his sin drives him to take full responsibility of his adultery with Hester, overcoming his lack of courage to allow him to admit his sin. He clearly expresses his “remorse” at committing adultery by acknowledging that he “should have stood” with Hester seven years prior to accept his judgment. Through confessing, Dimmesdale frees himself from his burden of sin and guilt, enabling him to reconcile himself with Pearl. There is a marvelous Bible verse that deals with confession: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1.9). Based on this verse, Dimmesdale’s confession gives God the way to forgive him and purify him of his unrighteousness. Thus, Dimmesdale ultimately achieves redemption through his confession and dies unburdened from his
After finishing his Election Sermon, he reveals his sin to the entire Puritan society: “‘People of New England!’ cried he … struggling up out of a fathomless depth of remorse and woe … ‘behold me here, the one sinner of the world! At last!—at last!—I stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood … But there stood one in the midst of you, at whose brand of sin and infamy ye have not shuddered!” (232). Here, Dimmesdale’s consciousness of his sin drives him to take full responsibility of his adultery with Hester, overcoming his lack of courage to allow him to admit his sin. He clearly expresses his “remorse” at committing adultery by acknowledging that he “should have stood” with Hester seven years prior to accept his judgment. Through confessing, Dimmesdale frees himself from his burden of sin and guilt, enabling him to reconcile himself with Pearl. There is a marvelous Bible verse that deals with confession: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1.9). Based on this verse, Dimmesdale’s confession gives God the way to forgive him and purify him of his unrighteousness. Thus, Dimmesdale ultimately achieves redemption through his confession and dies unburdened from his