Sinners Among Sinners
“ Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy”( New International Version Bible, Proverbs 28:13). Within the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, sin is riddled throughout Boston, Massachusetts, and can mainly be seen between Hester Prynne and Minister Dimmesdale. Committing the sin of adultery, both sinners deal with their sins in exceedingly different ways. Dimmesdale who kept in secret, suffers both physically and emotionally, while Hester, who claimed her sin and openly admitted it, suffered public humiliation, but in the end was shown mercy and lived better off than the internally tortured minister. Consequences of sin is seen frequently in this corrupted …show more content…
Spared from death, Hester was able to keep her life because of her captivating beauty and her husband’s alleged perishing at sea, however, her sin of adultery did not go without dreadful consequences. The community in which Hester occupied, saw her as a promiscuous and shameful woman, therefore, they showed her not a drop of kindness. The Puritan women in the society even wished to “put the brand of a hot iron” (Hawthorne 49) on Hester’s forehead with the letter “A” because they believed that the embroidered “A” on her bosom was not a proper punishment for her sin. With no friend in the world, Hester held the position of of an isolated outcast and embarrassment, all because of the act of Adultery. As time passed, however, Hester experienced redemption of meager amounts of her pride and respect from the community, by devoting her time to helping the poor, and sympathizing with ones in need. Her shameful A no longer symbolizing Adultery, instead “it meant able” (Hawthorne 148) in the community's eyes. Hester now, was seen as a strong woman, and the people praised her for the “A” instead of shamed her for …show more content…
Dimmesdale’s health began to fail, and even little Pearl noticed the minister wincing and frantically grabbing for his heart. Wanting to know more, Pearl asks her mother, “‘Why does the minister keep his hand over his heart?’” (Hawthorne 166). Numerous church-goers and highly respected people in the community could see the constant pain within Dimmesdale, and Pearl especially noticed Dimmesdale grabbing at his heart because it represents the place where his “A” should have been. Since Dimmesdale decided to keep his sin private from his followers, he suffered from constant and incessant physical pain. Dimmesdale not only suffered from physical pain, but he also suffered from emotional pain, especially when the public praised him as their accomplished and innocent minister. Dimmesdale stated that it “tortured him”(Hawthorne 131) when the pure citizens of the church told him he was an outstanding man and a wise minister, because on the inside he knew that he was a dirty sinner, and did not deserve such
“ Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy”( New International Version Bible, Proverbs 28:13). Within the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, sin is riddled throughout Boston, Massachusetts, and can mainly be seen between Hester Prynne and Minister Dimmesdale. Committing the sin of adultery, both sinners deal with their sins in exceedingly different ways. Dimmesdale who kept in secret, suffers both physically and emotionally, while Hester, who claimed her sin and openly admitted it, suffered public humiliation, but in the end was shown mercy and lived better off than the internally tortured minister. Consequences of sin is seen frequently in this corrupted …show more content…
Spared from death, Hester was able to keep her life because of her captivating beauty and her husband’s alleged perishing at sea, however, her sin of adultery did not go without dreadful consequences. The community in which Hester occupied, saw her as a promiscuous and shameful woman, therefore, they showed her not a drop of kindness. The Puritan women in the society even wished to “put the brand of a hot iron” (Hawthorne 49) on Hester’s forehead with the letter “A” because they believed that the embroidered “A” on her bosom was not a proper punishment for her sin. With no friend in the world, Hester held the position of of an isolated outcast and embarrassment, all because of the act of Adultery. As time passed, however, Hester experienced redemption of meager amounts of her pride and respect from the community, by devoting her time to helping the poor, and sympathizing with ones in need. Her shameful A no longer symbolizing Adultery, instead “it meant able” (Hawthorne 148) in the community's eyes. Hester now, was seen as a strong woman, and the people praised her for the “A” instead of shamed her for …show more content…
Dimmesdale’s health began to fail, and even little Pearl noticed the minister wincing and frantically grabbing for his heart. Wanting to know more, Pearl asks her mother, “‘Why does the minister keep his hand over his heart?’” (Hawthorne 166). Numerous church-goers and highly respected people in the community could see the constant pain within Dimmesdale, and Pearl especially noticed Dimmesdale grabbing at his heart because it represents the place where his “A” should have been. Since Dimmesdale decided to keep his sin private from his followers, he suffered from constant and incessant physical pain. Dimmesdale not only suffered from physical pain, but he also suffered from emotional pain, especially when the public praised him as their accomplished and innocent minister. Dimmesdale stated that it “tortured him”(Hawthorne 131) when the pure citizens of the church told him he was an outstanding man and a wise minister, because on the inside he knew that he was a dirty sinner, and did not deserve such