Consequences In The Scarlet Letter

Hester, I am most miserable” (Hawthorne 166). It is very noticeable that Dimmesdale is sorrowful for what he had done. Dimmesdale knew that he, a part of church, could not be known for such a horrible sin. He is doing so terrible that he is physically weakening. The shame is ruining his life and actually, he even died after he finally confessed his sin.

He has been doing this evil stunt for years. Dimmesdale thought he was truly trying to help him, but in reality he was really trying to make him feel extremely guilty for his decisions and actions. It seems wrong to mentally hurt a minister, but then again, he did do something illegal, according to Chillingworth. He is so obsessed with hurting the minister, he can’t back away from the hobby; “The unfortunate physician, while uttering these words, lifted his hands with a look of horror, as if he had beheld some frightful shape…it was one of those moments – which sometimes occurs only at the interval of years – when a man’s moral aspect is faithfully revealed to his mind’s eye. Not improbably, he had never before viewed himself as he did now” (118).

Lieutenant Cross was responsible for the men in his troops. He was very distracted by a woman named Martha. Lieutenant Cross distractions cause someone to be killed. Tim speaks about the lieutenant guilt “He felt shame. He hated himself.

Dying with their sins seems to be the greatest fear the townspeople have and Hawthorne describes it as, “Dying sinners cried aloud for Mr. Hopper, and would not yield their breath till he appeared”(10). It is a great vulnerability to bare their deepest mistakes to someone who sees all and judges them for the rest of eternity. “The black veil involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed all others”(6) the minister had seen his reflection in a glass cup, reminded of the horrible sin the veil represent for him. He quickly runs, the fear of the known chasing him and taunting him by hanging in front of his face, ever so reminding that he shall die with it.

Antonio begged God to forgive Andrew (Antonio’s brother) “Your brother has sinned with the whores, and so I condemn him to hell for eternity!”(Pg.173). Antonio’s demeanor portrayed confusion and fear of why he is the chosen one to save his brothers when he is hopeful for their saving of him. “Oh, I cried, forgive me Lord! I have sinned, I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed.

He knows what is right and wrong but one example has been haunting him in his life. Now in a Puritan society, sin had to have been confessed publicly and they must bear their shame. This however goes against what the Word actually says and this is what created Arthur Dimmesdale as a character. He most likely has already repented to God but his guilt will not leave until he confesses it to his congregation and it leads him to other “ways” of repentance. Being reminded of his guilt 24/7 causes his his health to deteriorate to the point of death, possibly alluding to the fact that the wages of sin are death.

Evolution is defined as a “process of change” and sin leads to changes in a person’s life. Hester Prynne was guilty of adultery. She committed the sin with Arthur Dimmesdale. In addition, Hester wears a scarlet letter in the form of an A on her dress as a sign of shame, but Dimmesdale has a burnt A on his chest, that is not visible to the public. Although they bear some minor similarities, the differences between Hester’s and Dimmesdale’s responses to their guilt are pronounced.

Hester had a baby that was not from her husband, which of course was wrong. She lied by not staying committed to her marriage and husband. Many people say she did wrong for committing a sin. “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.” (Nathaniel Hawthorne

Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale had an affair with Hester Prynne and Hester is the one being shamed for it. Being considered a god and being looked up to didn't help much either, being praised was a constant reminder of how imperfect he was and how cowardly he became because of his guilt. In conclusion, symbolism was greatly used in The Scarlet Letter to show how guilt can destroy someone. Dimmesdale has shown us that guilt can be more destructive than punishment imposed on others and that deception and secrecy can be destructive.

The townspeople gave Hester the punishment of wearing a scarlet letter “A” on her chest, and using her as an example of a transgressor. Hester’s husband hates her and for doing an adultery act while he was lost at sea. They both despise each other, for they think of betrayal. Though they both committed a wrong act. The puritan religion has strict beliefs, and anyone who lives in the town must follow all the strict rules.

Another element in this novel is Melinda’s inner conflict, man vs. self. What Melinda has been through greatly affected her everyday life. She struggles with depression, dislikes her appearance, and feels ashamed of herself for something that isn 't her fault: “I want to confess everything, hand over the guilt and mistake and anger to someone else...even if I dump the memory, it will stay with me, staining me” (Anderson 51). Andy Evans, the senior who raped her, made her feel worthless. This situation is much like the one in the novel The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.

There are many changes in peoples character in the scarlet letter, one of those characters is Arthur Dimmesdale. The sin Dimmesdale committed was great, he slept with a woman who was married. Hester became pregnant and admitted her sin, while Dimmesdale did not. This causes him to have a great deal of stress and guilt come over him. Which he, being a puritan minister makes it worse.

When we keep secrets we also keep guilt and guilt will destroy us from the inside. In the book of scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and how one woman who committed adultery with a character named dimmesdale who is the town revered. Dimmesdale kept secrets to maintaining his reputation but actions the guilt eats him from the inside. Dimmesdale the town revered for the puritan religion. He commits adultery with Hester and has a child, but instead of facing his sin he keeps inside for no one to know.

Light And Dark How can a lie change or affect someone? In The Scarlet Letter a sin which the protagonist is not honest about, affects different characters in different ways. Taking place in the middle of the 17th century the book is about Hester Prynne. Hester is a married woman who lives in Boston, Massachusetts during the Puritan Age. When her husband does not join her in the colonies she is lonely and commits adultery.

Love is an emotion that has been the known root of many conflicts, but it is also an action that has produced many wondrous things. The concept of love in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, is no different. At times, it generates animosity, yet, at other times, it evokes a sense of oneness. Love, as both an action, and an emotion, serves as a catalyst that elicits sinful acts, the uptaking of responsibility, as well as drives sacrifice. Love, in the form of an emotion, can be a powerful, driving force, in one’s decision making.