One action, a split second decision can undo all good deeds in a person 's life. This often occurs in novels such as The Crucible by Arthur Miller or The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne where characters make a life altering decision that causes them pain in the end. These character traits are used so often it becomes something of a stereotype, similar to the characters’ personalities in these iconic novels. The authors use cliches to express the idea that kind hearted people can become sinners despite their goodness. Through all of the symbolism in the story, Hawthorne clears up any confusion by saying that good people, like all others, commit sins. In order to prove his point Hawthorne presents Hester as truly “beautiful from regularity …show more content…
Arthur Dimmesdale, the minister, a clergyman had committed the horrid sin of adultery, the same sin as Hester. Dimmesdale’s holy affiliation gave him a kind and pure disposition and this was solidified by his dimwittedness, making him seem almost childlike. By having a character with these qualities, Hawthorne contradicts the stereotype he has set up by having Dimmesdale be “unworth...[y] to [complete his] humblest mission” (71), a quality virtually unheard of among ministers. The author then has Dimmesdale confess his “sin so awfully revealed!”(211) in order for both Hester and Dimmesdale to redeem themselves of sin and restore the goodness. Hawthorne wanted his readers to understand that two people who have sinned can seek forgiveness and receive it. Throughout the story many stereotypes are expressed and Hawthorne used the listed stereotypes to express the idea that all people, both pure of heart and evil of soul, commit sins. When Hester, a beautiful, young woman and Dimmesdale a minister have an affair, thus committing a sin, they both provide an example of a cliche that good people make poor decisions. Hawthorne used Hester and Dimmesdale as stereotypes to prove that all people, no matter the morale or disposition, commit
In The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible Nathaniel Hawthorne and Arthur Miller use a great number of rhetorical strategies in order to argue that a person's conscience should take precedence over their religion. A rhetorical strategy that is used quite often by the two authors is pathos, in which they tapped into the reader's emotions to convince them of this idea. In The Scarlet Letter the character Dimmesdale is the one with the heavy conscience due to the fact that he is Pearl’s biological father. He does not admit to this sin because he is in an eminent position by being a minister of the community.
(113) “What can thy silence do for him, except it tempt him—yea, compel him, as it were—to add hypocrisy to sin?” (62) These passages emphasize the internal conflict within Dimmesdale, he is a man who is desperately trying to hide his sins from the public. The physical description of Dimmesdale emphasizes his physical weakness and fragility, which reflects his moral weakness, linked with his unfaithfulness which brings him to fulfill sinful acts.
“the magistrates are god fearing gentlemen ,but merciful church (Hawthorn p 49” Dimmesdale is an extremely religions man which makes committing a sin a suspenseful shocker. His job as a minister is to teach and encourage people to do good things in the eyes of god . He is an interpreter of the bible , DImmesdale's sin causes him to be a sinful man . “ the puritan of him which the devil claimed, and through he lost the win the rest (Hawthorne 19) . His religion is being weakened by the guilt of his secret sin.
Being put in a time allotment where theocracies were plenteous, the novel contains numerous religious components that are then repudiated with the reason that it is being done for the sake of the Lord. All things considered, every one of the characters argued to be loyal adherents of the congregation and its statement, however all, yet Hester, ended up being to be deceiving themselves and the town. Hawthorne's incorporation of this incongruity is crucial to the section in light of the fact that it shows that regardless of how immaculate and honest one may show up, they might just be guarding a profound, dull mystery. Like the renowned saying goes, never judge a book by its
A single mistake can wholly compromise an individual’s ability to accomplish their dreams. Hillary Clinton’s blunder in handling the United States’ confidential emails could very well have cost her the presidency. Knowing the possible consequences if the truth of the situation was released, she fabricated lies in hopes of maintaining her political power. Similarly, throughout both The Scarlet Letter, a fiction novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Arthur Miller’s historical fiction play, The Crucible, people are willing to go to great lengths in order to maintain their statuses. Transpiring in 17th century New England, The Scarlet Letter follows a woman by the name of Hester Prynne who endures unrelenting ignominy after giving birth to
Does lying to a community make a person feel better as a sinner? Does acting to a community help hide one’s true self? Arthur Dimmesdale, a hypocrite, depends on lying to survive. He loves but cannot show it in public; he is depressed but tries to hide his pain within his sermons. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s
The human mind is far more complex than humans themselves realize. The concept of free will and its limits can alter either the person or their life. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller presents the idea that misguided motives lead to decisions that wrong others by fearing what they don’t understand. The fear of the worst to occur is what fuels these people to encourage unreliable reasons for misinterpreted conduct.
However, his sin is dealt with a bit differently. Dimmesdale is a well-respected and important pillar of their community, being that he is the minister. The people of society are in shock as they find out that Dimmesdale allows this terrible sin to occur. “People say,” said another, “that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor, takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon his congregation” (Hawthorne #). Little do they know that he is the second half of the adultery that occurred with Hester and holds just as much blame and sin as she does.
Literature is a wonderful thing; it explores the relationships between humans and their nature, historical events, and can be used to express one’s creativity. It can also be used to give moral guidance; this was Arthur Miller’s reasoning behind writing The Crucible. In this dramatic retelling of the Salem trials, Miller ensnares his reader with stories of adultery, betrayal, and material greed. His intention, however, is not to entertain with operatic drama. This play is a cautionary tale about finger pointing and its potentially fatal consequences.
Throughout The Scarlet Letter, a clear definition of good and evil is never given, allowing the reader to interpret authorial choices and create their own definitions. Hester is first seen as a “spectacle of guilt and shame” (62) to others, clearly looked down upon in the eyes of the town. Yet Hawthorne still describes her as “glowing with girlish beauty” (64), her beauty indicating that there is something positive or good about her. This alludes to the fact that Hester is internally good, as she does not need the reassurance of society for her actions, yet in society she can only be seen as strong as her personal morals do not align with Puritan values. On the other hand, Dimmesdale is a figurehead of society, “a true priest, a true religionist,” and never “a man of liberal views” (148).
Erin Joel Mrs. Janosy English 2H P 5 22 October 2015 Quote Explication Dimmesdale is trying to overcome a conflict within his own soul, defying his own religion, and choosing to do wrong by keeping his sin to himself. In a theocracy type community like Dimmesdale's, God is known as the supreme civil ruler, and a crime would be known as a sin. On the other hand, Hester’s sin was made known to the public, receiving the public shame and ridicule she deserved. During the duration of time when the public knew Dimmesdale was hiding his sin, “the agony with which this public tortured him” (Hawthorne 119).
When push comes to shove, everyone makes a tough decision, but in the end the decision was either out of fear to protect themselves, or a strategy to gain a designated amount of authority. In today 's society, many of the decisions people make lead to riots in the streets and people getting hurt. Similarly, the Ferguson riot in Missouri years ago, where many civilians were injured because of decisions made by everyone involved. Whether it turned violent because they wanted to prove something or because they feared the police when they showed up. In the story, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, the characters also illustrate the fact that it is human nature to defend oneself, to strive to survive despite the harm such actions can cause to
In the development and deterioration of Hester and Dimmesdale, respectively, Hawthorne emphasizes that one’s response to sin is much more important than sin itself. By owning up to her mistakes and attempting redemption, Hester is able to develop into a saintly figure, while
The Virtue of Hester Prynne In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s highly acclaimed novel, The Scarlet Letter, a Puritan town’s reaction is described after Hester Prynne raises a scandal that goes against the town’s religious views. The Puritans believe the Bible should be translated into their life and that God should be the center of it. Many of them think of Hester as a sinful woman without virtue. They treat her as an outcast and consider that she is somehow affiliated with the Devil.
Moral Weakness An anonymous person once said, “Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain” (CoolnSmart.com). This idea is one many characters from The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, struggled with. In this 1600 Salem society, many characters abandon their morals and act in spite, fear or love in order to achieve some level of personal gain. Based on these actions, the overwhelming theme in The Crucible is moral weakness.