Throughout The Scarlet Letter, many themes were presented in many different forms, Motifs, and Symbols. Hawthorne, throughout the story, presented the theme sin, and allowed the reader to perceive it as a gift, or more of a necessary step toward happiness. Many Characters, Symbols, and Plot points tied to the theme of sin, but not all were evil as would be expected with a topic of sin. Through the Scarlet letter, Hawthorne portrays sin as more of a grey area, not putting it out to be dark, but not completely light either, as would have been in an actual puritan society where any rule of the bible that was broken was often severely punished. Hawthorne added many different elements to the story to make the reader think, and ponder over the real
…show more content…
Roger is the opposite of Pearl. Pearl, being considered a blessing born out of sin, her mothers only treasure “But, she names the infant ‘Pearl’ as being of great price-purchased with all she had- her mothers only pleasure” (Hawthorne). With Chillingworth being the bad product of her mother’s sin. Hester’s sin, Adultery, Has caused Chillingworth to constantly seek revenge. To seek out the father of Pearl was his only goal throughout the entire book. This want, or desire, to destroy the man Hester cheated with, has lead to him to destroying himself; the sin has caused him to sin himself. He has lied and manipulated other people to try and get his answer. When Hester first came across Chillingworth, he had yet to be consumed by his need for revenge. “When he found the existence of Hester Prynne fastened on his own and saw that she appeared to recognize him, he slowly and calmly raised his finger, made a gesture with it in the air, and laid it on his lips”. (Hawthorne 59). Chillingworth grew into something that made Hester hate him. But, not all of his actions were evil, and produced more sin. His actions and attitude toward Dimmesdale and Hester, has made Hester realize down in her self, that maybe what she did, wasn’t a sin. She followed her heart and had relations with the man she loved. There was no sin that action. Hester then came to realize later in the book, that her one true sin was marring Chillingworth. …show more content…
But in a way, by the end of the book, he had taken that theme and turned it into more a “Blessing in Disguise”. Hawthorne took the Sin and greed in the different characters and by the end of the novel, had turned it into happiness and closure. Hester and Dimmesdale had their final moments together, and Pearl accepted him as her father. Hawthorne taught the reader, that sin, isn’t the breaking of the law or disobeying god. He taught us that “sin” is more of a necessary step toward happiness. That in order for us to be happy we may have to endure some hardship, or go against societies rules, and be yourself. Do what you want, and that the opinions of others don’t matter. He makes sin out to be more of a process. That if things aren’t right, or the way you want them, you may have to break some rules in order to get your happiness. But that’s necessarily not a bad thing that will lead to evil. But more of a trial, that if you pass the trial, you can be happy, and can change things. Hawthorne was teaching us to pursue our own happiness, and don’t let society, or the mass opinion, stop us from
Roger is the opposite of Pearl. Pearl, being considered a blessing born out of sin, her mothers only treasure “But, she names the infant ‘Pearl’ as being of great price-purchased with all she had- her mothers only pleasure” (Hawthorne). With Chillingworth being the bad product of her mother’s sin. Hester’s sin, Adultery, Has caused Chillingworth to constantly seek revenge. To seek out the father of Pearl was his only goal throughout the entire book. This want, or desire, to destroy the man Hester cheated with, has lead to him to destroying himself; the sin has caused him to sin himself. He has lied and manipulated other people to try and get his answer. When Hester first came across Chillingworth, he had yet to be consumed by his need for revenge. “When he found the existence of Hester Prynne fastened on his own and saw that she appeared to recognize him, he slowly and calmly raised his finger, made a gesture with it in the air, and laid it on his lips”. (Hawthorne 59). Chillingworth grew into something that made Hester hate him. But, not all of his actions were evil, and produced more sin. His actions and attitude toward Dimmesdale and Hester, has made Hester realize down in her self, that maybe what she did, wasn’t a sin. She followed her heart and had relations with the man she loved. There was no sin that action. Hester then came to realize later in the book, that her one true sin was marring Chillingworth. …show more content…
But in a way, by the end of the book, he had taken that theme and turned it into more a “Blessing in Disguise”. Hawthorne took the Sin and greed in the different characters and by the end of the novel, had turned it into happiness and closure. Hester and Dimmesdale had their final moments together, and Pearl accepted him as her father. Hawthorne taught the reader, that sin, isn’t the breaking of the law or disobeying god. He taught us that “sin” is more of a necessary step toward happiness. That in order for us to be happy we may have to endure some hardship, or go against societies rules, and be yourself. Do what you want, and that the opinions of others don’t matter. He makes sin out to be more of a process. That if things aren’t right, or the way you want them, you may have to break some rules in order to get your happiness. But that’s necessarily not a bad thing that will lead to evil. But more of a trial, that if you pass the trial, you can be happy, and can change things. Hawthorne was teaching us to pursue our own happiness, and don’t let society, or the mass opinion, stop us from