How Does Hester Use Forgiveness In The Scarlet Letter

In the Scarlet Letter God forgives Hester and Dimmesdale. Hester and Dimmesdale sinned seven years ago and they understand and accept they did wrong. These two have to carry the burden of guilt and stress on their shoulders, and Dimmesdale's confession in the story becomes announced. Both characters have the right to acquire forgiveness within the story because of the actions they make. Throughout the story we realize the amount of guilt and anxiety that's placed on both of their shoulders, and after those seven years of suffering God forgave them. One scene in chapter five, “Hester and the needle” says, “lonely as was Hester's situation, and without a friend on earth who dared to show himself.” Within those seven years she lived in confinement and the townspeople treated her indifferently at times, which we can see in that phrase. Also, in the chapter, “The Pastor and his Parishioner”, it says,”I might have known it," murmured he--"I did know it! Was not the secret told me, in the natural recoil of my heart at the first sight of him, and as often as I have seen him since? Why did I not understand? Oh, Hester

In the chapter, “Revelation of the Scarlet Letter”, Hester and the crowd listen intently to Dimmesdale's confession of being the biological father of little Pearl. He quotes, “in the name of Him, so terrible and so merciful, who gives me grace, at this last moment, to do what--for my own heavy sin and miserable agony--I withheld myself from doing seven years ago, come hither now, and twine thy strength about me!” By doing so he tells the entire multitude about his true selfhood. Pearl then gives him a kiss for confessing. Continuing, he states, “is not this better,” murmured he, ”than what we dreamed of in the forest?” Again he demonstrated to everyone that he fathered little Pearl and became a sinner along with