After reading Nathaniel’s Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, we are shown that the consequence of sin is the theme for the book. This theme was explored by Hawthorne through four different levels of sin. Although each level was displayed equally through the novel, the sin of man’s inhumanity to man outranked all else. The primary characters are each of one or more of the following levels of sin: sin of vengeance, the sin of hypocrisy, and sing of adultery.
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First of all, in the beginning of the novel, we know that Hester Prynne is guilty of adultery. Also we are told that one of her punishments for this sin was to serve a prison term. Second, she had a baby that was formed out of lust and not out of love. The name Pearl was given to this child, meaning of great wealth. Thirdly, Hester was made to don a scarlet letter upon her chest. This was done so all of the townspeople to know that she was one who met with the black men in the forest. Lastly, she was forced to stand in humility while the townspeople mocked and made fun of her. No matter how hard the magistrates tried to make Hester Prynne reveal her accomplice, she kept his name unknown.
As I know everyone guessed throughout the novel, Hester Prynne was not the only one committing the sin of adultery. However, Arthur Dimmesdale did not confess this sin until it was too late; he was evolved in adultery too. Dimmesdale while not telling of his sin, continued his ministry. Nonetheless, his guilty conscience drove him to a manic-depressive state of mind. Also, Dimmesdale became very ill, apparently because the scarlet letter upon Hester’s bosom seemingly burned through his chest weakening his heart. When he realized what was happening to him, he tried to let everyone know without just coming out and saying it. For example, in his sermons, and in another attempt, he went to the scaffold, in the dead of the night, and screamed out at the top of his lungs, hoping all would arouse from their sleep and find him there. Then, coming upon Hester and peal, he held their hands, and all three were united on the scaffold. No one except Roger Chillingworth found them there, and he was not going to tell on the basis that he was involved in it too.
In spite of all the attempts to expose himself, Dimmesdale only became physically and mentally worse, for he still hadn’t honestly confessed to being Hester’s accomplice. By deceiving himself and the townspeople, he was guilty of the sin of hypocrisy. At the Election Day Parade, while everyone was gathered in the town center, Dimmesdale, once again, took the hand of Hester and Pearl and Confessed to Adultery. When this was finally done, he passed away for he was too sick and found no reason to live.
Dimmesdale wasn’t the only one guilty of being a hypocrite. Roger Chillingworth, actually Mr. Prynne, was also a hypocrite with his secret identity. Chillingworth was an awful man, who was guilty of a far worse sin than either Hester or Dimmesdale. He was guilty of vengeance. Ever since Chillingworth found Hester standing in public humiliation on the scaffold, he has been out to get revenge on the man who betrayed him. Chillingworth devoted the rest of his short life to solving this mystery.
For the next seven years he was Dimmesdale, trying, but not but not with his heart in it, to help Dimmesdale overcome his sickness. During this whole time, Chillingworth’s appearance mysterious changed for the worse. He had grown old and mean, and looked a lot like the devil. Soon Arthur Dimmesdale passed away, He himself also passed on, He too felt that he had no reason to go on living, the mystery had been solved forever more.
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Finally, the worst sin in this book appears to be the communal sin of man’s inhumanity to man. Whenever Hester came into the town, she would be bound to be stared at and looked upon as an outcast. For example, they mocked her for walking too proud but, in reality she only had her head up enough to watch where she was going. People had a tendency to run at the sight of this poor woman, and were sure to keep distance at gatherings. Whenever she would go to the church for service, the sermon would just happen to be about adultery. To make money for her and her daughter, she made beautiful clothing for the wives of the magistrates, however, she was paid nothing compared to what she should have been. It was truly amazing how much difference was shown when show to her compared to Dimmesdale. Although he was guilty of hypocrisy, Dimmesdale was treated as a saint. Chillingworth was also high looked upon for being a great physician, while being guilty of vengeance. Thus concluding that when the community judges a person, they too are committing a sin of inhumanity to man.
While reading this wonderful novel, you may conclude that it is better (not easier) to confess your sin rather than to conceal it, even though you may fall out of graces with the community, it is easier on your soul. All throughout the novel, the character are made to endure the consequences of their sins. Thus concluding that the theme of The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is the Consequences of sin.
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