In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the two main characters, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, are in a “star-crossed” relationship. They have all of the characteristics of this type of relationship: a passionate love for each other that is not accepted by society. The love that is not accepted by society results in their downfalls. In this situation, Hester Prynne and Dimmesdale experience a downfall throughout the story, but they learn how to resolve the conflict in their daily lives near the resolution. Although both characters, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, suffer hardships, who suffers the most throughout their deposition? One can find it evident that in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the two main characters suffer
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In the resolution of The Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale reveals the sin he has committed upon the scaffold, the same place Hester received ignominious punishment for her part in the sin. He admits to the Puritan crowd that he was a partaker in adultery with Hester, as he tells them to “behold a dreadful witness of it” (Hawthorne 266). Since Dimmesdale admits to his transgression against God, he can now enter Heaven once he dies. Even though Hester has already confessed and can go to Heaven, she is content that society has finally allowed her to be with Dimmesdale. However, this only occurs when they are both dead, as they are alongside each other with “one tombstone served for both” (274). This is a major change since the exposition of the story, as society would not accept the sinner and the priest to be together as a couple. As Dimmesdale and more-so Hester received changing perspectives from individuals of the Puritan community and the Puritan community as a whole, they have proven themselves worthy to have a part in society. Henceforth, Hester and Dimmesdale have received what they were looking for throughout the novel: acceptance. In conclusion, it is believed that Dimmesdale has suffered the consequences of sin more in comparison to Hester. Although Hester has received more external judgement, there are not many factors contributing to the deterioration of her psychological or physical state. Dimmesdale had many subversive effects on his mental and physical state, as he withheld his guilt. These effects were so extreme that they ultimately led to his death. Although they both suffered hardships, it is perceived that Dimmesdale suffered the consequences of sin more than Hester, mentally and
In the resolution of The Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale reveals the sin he has committed upon the scaffold, the same place Hester received ignominious punishment for her part in the sin. He admits to the Puritan crowd that he was a partaker in adultery with Hester, as he tells them to “behold a dreadful witness of it” (Hawthorne 266). Since Dimmesdale admits to his transgression against God, he can now enter Heaven once he dies. Even though Hester has already confessed and can go to Heaven, she is content that society has finally allowed her to be with Dimmesdale. However, this only occurs when they are both dead, as they are alongside each other with “one tombstone served for both” (274). This is a major change since the exposition of the story, as society would not accept the sinner and the priest to be together as a couple. As Dimmesdale and more-so Hester received changing perspectives from individuals of the Puritan community and the Puritan community as a whole, they have proven themselves worthy to have a part in society. Henceforth, Hester and Dimmesdale have received what they were looking for throughout the novel: acceptance. In conclusion, it is believed that Dimmesdale has suffered the consequences of sin more in comparison to Hester. Although Hester has received more external judgement, there are not many factors contributing to the deterioration of her psychological or physical state. Dimmesdale had many subversive effects on his mental and physical state, as he withheld his guilt. These effects were so extreme that they ultimately led to his death. Although they both suffered hardships, it is perceived that Dimmesdale suffered the consequences of sin more than Hester, mentally and