What Is The Importance Of Secrecy In The Scarlet Letter

Secrecy, in its pure nature, disorients society from what one wishes to expose; it becomes a prerequisite to many for it is portrayed as the only course of action to mask one’s true self, imperfections, and mistakes, without consequences. Society attempts to disguise or delude sins due to shame or fear of dilapidating a reputation and, often, hiding behind white-lies reveals a person’s forthright values and conscientious intentions. Consequently, Nathaniel Hawthorne intensifies the need for secrecy through the character of Arthur Dimmesdale - whom questionably attempts to avoid facing his own sin - by beautifully practicing motif throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter.

Dimmesdale’s mistakes are clearly affirmed to the reader when he commits adultery and keeps his secret to himself. The character does so to preserve his reputation of town-minister with the reasoning that the townspeople would essentially depart from God if he were to “expose himself.” The Irony comes into play when Dimmesdale becomes rather idiosyncratic to the reader since the character is, essentially, a fraud. Furthermore, the reader is able to distinguish the use of motif and the need to keep reputations intact and

By striving to reach a utopian society, individuals avoid confrontation or a need for help, whether it be from God or man. Through a Christian perspective, It is extremely apparent that Dimmesdale yearns the image of perfection for himself, and continues to bottle in his necessity for salvation. Moreover, Dimmesdale adjudicated to fast and whip himself as self-punishment. This act is not infinitesimal, for it is a rather essential and substantial event in Hawthorne’s work. Secrecy has become a daily burden many have to carry. Nevertheless, it is human nature for one to desire the approval of others, and that is one thing society will never be able to