The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne - 1496 Words

Everyone sins. This is a well-known and true fact. Whether it is lying to a peer or causing a car accident, everybody sins everyday. The early Puritans of the 16th century were strong believers in everyday sin and writers showed the Puritan way of life in their books, many of which are considered classics. Three characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter—Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Pearl—all represent a sin that is revealed through their actions or the actions of others. Hester Prynne’s sin of adultery is revealed to all at the beginning of the novel. Because her sin is revealed, she can peacefully live her life without the shame of unspoken sin. People still judge her harshly, but she can stand upright before them†¦show more content†¦She is cast out by the people in the town, yet continues to serve in the community as best she can. She is a righteous woman who willingly chose to commit adultery and is working to repent or s how her remorse by serving others. In a conversation between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale, they discuss the attitude of Hester. Chillingworth asks if Hester is less miserable by revealing her sin because she â€Å"hath none of that mystery of hidden sinfulness which [is deemed] so grievous to be borne† (123). Dimmesdale agrees â€Å"it must needs be better for the sufferer to be free to show his pain, as this poor woman Hester is, than to cover it up in his heart† (123). These men agree Hester is happier because she has revealed her sin and does not live with the anguish of a hidden transgression. She does, however, have to live with the people who have judged her harshly for her actions. â€Å"Every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came in contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished† (77-78). Yet even in her banishment, Hester â€Å"bestowed all her superfluous means in charity† (77) and sews clothes for t he poor, who also resented her. Even though Hester has revealed her sin and feels like a better person herself, the people treat her badly now that they know her horrible sin and her future seems inauspicious. She also feels like a better person because she has