Sin in the Scarlet Letter
The fate of all characters in The Scarlet Letter was determined by Hawthorne's revealing statement in the middle of the novel. This impenetrable truth dictates the behavior of the characters in the entire story. The public and the hierarchy of the society demanded punishments for all involved of such severity that even years after the crime its potential still resonated throughout the town, effecting the plot through its ending. Hawthorne's placement of this quote is typical of his clever artifice, giving readers critical information at an important intersection of the novel, but a part where this knowledge is overshadowed and not considered pertinent. The passage is perfect Hawthorne incorporating the plot of the novel, the true nature of people, and his unique writing style.The common justice of the scarlet letter is the visual reminder to Hester Prynne of her deemed crime. It was a "lurid gleam along the dark passage-way of the interior"(p.48) placed upon her breast by the tyrannical judiciaries of her town. Her punishment was a demand of the people to burden her with the weight of a jesterlike form in the community, for it was society's right to immediately acknowledging her as a sinner. Society also, in demanding justice,
The punishment resonated throughout the entire community creating a sub-plot among the haunted Reverend Dimmesdale and the mysterious physician, Roger Chillingworth. Dimmesdale, years after his affair with Hester, is incredibly guilty mostly due to the control Chillingworth has had over his emotions in the years previous. Although not a town judiciary, Chillingworth is a main but private despot in the novel; He holds the secret that keeps Hester from being hung but threatens her to into silence of their former relationship and also many times tries to take Pearl away from her mother. In regard to Dimmesdale, Chillingworth says early in the novel, "There is a sympathy that will make me conscience of him, I shall see him tremble. I shall feel myself shudder, suddenly and unawares. Sooner or later, he must needs be mine"(p.52). This passage shows the temper that an interested member of society was ready to use on a criminal, to award more than justice through personal vendetta. After seven years the body, mind, and soul of Dimmesdale is completely dilapidated and upon his last speech, on the day of his death, does he allow himself justice by revealing himself. He says from the scaffold of shame, "Hester Prynne.....in this last moment, I withheld my self from doing seven year ago, come hither now, and twine thy strength around me! Thy strength, Hester; but let it be guided by the will which God hath granted me! This wretched and wronged old man is opposing it with a
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Approximate Word count = 991
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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