Owning up to the truth is a difficult task that most people struggle to do. It is often easier for humans to hide their wrongdoings from their peers, rather than being truthful. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, both main characters, Dimmesdale and Hester commit an act that is regarded by their peers, the Puritans, as a sin. The Puritans were a Protestant religious group that sailed to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in order to practice their religion in peace. They had strict moral and religious codes and their society was dominated by an oligarchy. In the novel, Hester and Dimmesdale commit adultery, which is punishable by death by the Puritan courts. However only Hester confesses her sins, and is given the eternal punishment of
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Governor Bellingham threatens to take Pearl away from Hester due to her sin. Hester argues that Pearl must stay with her by exclaiming, “She is my happiness! - she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter … Ye shall not take her!” (133). Pearl and the scarlet letter operate in very similar ways. They both are reminders to Hester and the Puritan community about Hester’s sin. Pearl embodies the scarlet letter. Pearl provides Hester with love, and love created the scarlet letter. Pearl provides Hester with the incentive to accept and grow from her sins. Hester offers multiple juxtaposing ideas on why she needs to keep custody of Pearl. Hawthorne uses these contradictory ideas because Pearl is important to Hester in so many different ways. Pearl reminds Hester of all of the good things in her life and, more importantly, teaches Hester about her sin. Hester is able to grow through Pearl by learning about what is right and what is wrong, and also learning how to grow and become a more responsible person. Dimmesdale does not have this same relationship with Pearl and does not undergo the same learning experience through Pearl, that Hester …show more content…
He juxtaposes Hester, who is truthful about her sins, with Dimmesdale, who keeps his wrongdoings within himself. Hester is able to grow from the scarlet letter as it helps her learn the true magnitude of her sins, and eventually, become a larger and better part of the community because of it. She becomes ‘able’ rather than an ‘adulterer’. Dimmesdale who is not truthful about his sins is tortured by his guilt. His remorsefulness builds up inside of him, until after he delivers his final sermon, where he tears off his pastoral robes and exposes his scarlet letter. The scarlet letter does not just apply to an adulterer, it is a symbol for all people. The people that are honest and able to share their wrongdoings with others are able to grow from their mistakes. Those who conceal their scarlet letter become overtaken by their grief, much like Dimmesdale, and they become eternally tormented by their
Governor Bellingham threatens to take Pearl away from Hester due to her sin. Hester argues that Pearl must stay with her by exclaiming, “She is my happiness! - she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter … Ye shall not take her!” (133). Pearl and the scarlet letter operate in very similar ways. They both are reminders to Hester and the Puritan community about Hester’s sin. Pearl embodies the scarlet letter. Pearl provides Hester with love, and love created the scarlet letter. Pearl provides Hester with the incentive to accept and grow from her sins. Hester offers multiple juxtaposing ideas on why she needs to keep custody of Pearl. Hawthorne uses these contradictory ideas because Pearl is important to Hester in so many different ways. Pearl reminds Hester of all of the good things in her life and, more importantly, teaches Hester about her sin. Hester is able to grow through Pearl by learning about what is right and what is wrong, and also learning how to grow and become a more responsible person. Dimmesdale does not have this same relationship with Pearl and does not undergo the same learning experience through Pearl, that Hester …show more content…
He juxtaposes Hester, who is truthful about her sins, with Dimmesdale, who keeps his wrongdoings within himself. Hester is able to grow from the scarlet letter as it helps her learn the true magnitude of her sins, and eventually, become a larger and better part of the community because of it. She becomes ‘able’ rather than an ‘adulterer’. Dimmesdale who is not truthful about his sins is tortured by his guilt. His remorsefulness builds up inside of him, until after he delivers his final sermon, where he tears off his pastoral robes and exposes his scarlet letter. The scarlet letter does not just apply to an adulterer, it is a symbol for all people. The people that are honest and able to share their wrongdoings with others are able to grow from their mistakes. Those who conceal their scarlet letter become overtaken by their grief, much like Dimmesdale, and they become eternally tormented by their