There are many sins committed in the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn, including many counts of adultery, witchcraft, and hatred. Despite the other's wrongdoing, one person stands out. Chillingworth is the greatest sinner in the novel.

Webster's defines sin as the "neglect of the laws of morality and religion." The basis for the argument for the two other sinners in the book thrives off of their adultery. The reason these two cannot be called the greatest sinners is because they admitted and repented their sins. The Bible, the holy book the Puritan's studied, told that if they repent their transgression, they will be forgiven. Both Dimmesdale and Hester admitted their sins to the community and more importantly to their God. During their mortal lives, Hester is punished her entire life with the letter and Dimmesdale punishes himself by depr

iving himself of treatment and nourishment. The sinner in the book who never prays to his Lord for forgiveness should stand out as the greatest sinner. The sins committed by Mr. Chillingworth include his utter need for revenge. He is absolutely evil. He seems to torture poor Dimmesdale while he lives with him. He taunts him when he speaks of some leaves he found near a grave; "They grew out of his heart, and typify it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime.(pg131)"

This man lives only to destroy the life of one Reverend Dimmesdale. When the man who has been tormenting himself with guilt and internal anguish finally confronts it and is about to ascend the scaffold to say the words that he has kept inside for so long, the evil Chillingworth begs him to stop and back down. He yells to Dimmesdale, calling him a madman and begging; "Do n

Some common words found in the essay are:
Dimmesdale Hester, Reverend Dimmesdale, Nathaniel Hawthorn, Roger Chillingworth, Letter Deep, Scarlet Letter, scarlet letter, sinner scarlet letter, roger chillingworth, sinner scarlet, sins committed,
Approximate Word count = 619
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)