Theme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter example essay topic

The story is based on the results of guilt as an effect of sin. The first character who is exposed to this guilt is Hester, who struggles more openly with this problem. On the other hand the Reverend Dimmesdale suffers alone with a searing guilt which ultimately leads to his demise. Hester is the most immediately affected by guilt, which is openly shown to the public by the scarlet letter, that she bears on her clothing. Another visible sign of her guilt is the embodiment of it in Pearl, who is the direct result of Hester's sin and is therefore a constant reminder of guilt for both Hester and Dimmesdale. Pearl is also always doing something to further her mother's guilt.

The first thing she recognizes in the world is the scarlet letter, she often throws things at the letter, and she even makes one for herself out of seaweed. Hawthorne even shows her as an A herself Hester make her a beautiful red dress that is vaguely shaped like an A, and the townspeople see her as a little scarlet letter walking along side of Hester. Guilt leads to leads to Hester's isolation mentally, and through the law and banishment to the peninsula she becomes isolated from society. Hester is constantly reminded of her guilt the most obvious example is when she travels to the governors mansion, and the description of her image as she looks into a breastplate of a suit of armor, ? the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance.

In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it? (72). The reflection of the scarlet letter is made to look larger than life, just like society blows it out of proportion in the beginning of the novel. This occurs during a time when Hester is questioning herself due to her guilt, and she even question whether it is worth living if your life is so tainted. Although it causes Hester great pain, it is better for Hester to suffer openly about her guilt in public because she eventually comes to terms with it. Hawthorne shows the evolution of the letter, ?

The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers, stern and wild ones, and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss? Hester is eventually seen as just another person in the community, and the scarlet letter is taken to mean Able instead of Adulteress. Dimmesdale in contrast hides his sins, and the guilt eats away at him.

From the first scene when he asks the townspeople to forgive Hester, all he really wants is for himself to be forgiven by the townspeople, by himself, and most importantly by god. Although Pearl is also a reminder to him of his guilt, she is not as hurtful, because Dimmesdale as a reverend is constantly reminded of his sins by the sermons he gives. He must always profess against the very deeds he has done and he tries to hide them still. The constant guilt he bears begins to wear on him to the point where he denies himself food and tortures himself physically; ?

His form grew emaciated; his voice, though still rich and sweet has a certain melancholy prophecy of decay in it? (82). These are all examples of his penance, but it still is not enough. Dimmesdale tries many times to tell others of his sin but always falls just short of truly confessing.

He attempts to tell the people at his church that he is a sinner and how he is far less than honorable. The people there assume he is just being modest, and he receives great acclaim for his sermons. When Roger Chillingworth is assigned to help the reverend who is obviously not in the best of health Chillingworth merely furthers Dimmesdale's guilt in order to further his own passionate plot for revenge. Hawthorne show what great lengths Chillingworth will go to when he describe Dimmesdale's new room with Chillingworth, ? The walls were hung round with tapestry, said to be from the Gobelin looms, and, at all event, representing the Scriptural story of David and Bathsheba, and Nathan the prophet? (86), Chillingworth goes as far as to decorate Dimmesdale's room with portraits of famous acts of adultery.

Dimmesdale's sorry existence shows the novels theme. The theme of guilt in The Scarlet Letter is a rather prominent one. The moral of the story is also based in guilt; it is better to be forthcoming and honest, the oneself, to ones peers, and to god, about ones sins, rather than to hide them and let guilt eat away, and eventually ruin your very existence. This is ironically a belief shared by the Puritan church, which Hawthorne does not exactly praise in the novel. Hester airs her guilt with the town and although it is hard for her at first she does not really suffer. Dimmesdale on the other hand hide his sin and guilt ruins his life and eventually leads to his death..