the Scarlet Letter

A detailed Summary of the Scarlet Letter

In the novel, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, what appears to be Hester Prynne's tragedy becomes the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale's suffering and depression, despite the letter "A" boldly present on her chest. Revered Dimmesdale's affair with Hester Prynne continuously troubles his conscience; seeing that no other person feels as guilty, the minister is the most tragic character in the novel. At the time when this novel takes place, not only ministers, but ordinary people of the town took religion very serious. With great displeasure, Hester Prynne takes her punishment of being shunned from the people of her society, and by covering it up and secreting her sin, Pearl's significant contribution to Hester's life acts as a cure to her misdeeds, while no one to turn to, Dimmesdale's guilty conscience is buried within, eventually destroying him. Hester Prynne's sin of adultery had a big impact on herself as well as the entire community. All the people looked at her as worthless and dishonest. Her mistake had shunned her from the society. She quoted: "I happened to place it on my breast. It seemed to me, then that I experienced a sensation not altogether physical, yet almost so, as of burning heat; and as if the letter were not

of red cloth, but red-hot iron." (31) At the time, no one knew the whereabouts of her partner. She had felt extremely lonely and disappointed; the thought of her being shunned from the community was beyond her belief. Her last hope was Pearl. By no means did she have to suffer as well. To many people, the forest is a good and happy place full of nature and respect, but in New England at this time of witchery, it spelled evil and had horror written all over it. It is one day that Hester Prynne and Pearl meet Dimmesdale in the forest. After a conversation about Hester, it is now time for Arthur to share what is on his worried, confused mind. With a self-esteem already low he vigorously puts forth: "Of penance, I have had enough! Of penitence there has been none! Else, I should long ago I have thrown these garments of mock holiness, and have shown myself to mankind as they will see me at the judgement-seat. Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!"(176) Dimmesdale clearly sees that Hester is no longer worried or feels guilt inside himself. For him, it seems almost ludicrous that Hester feels the way she does. With Pearl at her side, Hester has someone to turn to for hope, and that's exactly what she has done. Reverend Dimmesdale has had a lonely journey of guilt. With no one to turn to, his sin "burns in secret." It is not until the middle of th

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Approximate Word count = 948
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English