Sin, like virtue has always been of great human concern. Sin to one person is quite different to another. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne sin is a pervasive theme. One of the main characters, Hester Prynne commits a sin and has to cope with its consequences. From my perspective, sin is characterized by hurting someone directly or indirectly, without just cause. Conversely, the Puritan definition of sin is to go against their rigid moral code derived from the bible. Generally, when people sin they either repent or deny any wrongdoing. I believe repentance is to make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins. The Puritans had basically the same definition I do. However, they believe that repentance involved living in misery and being scorned by the public. Thus, the meaning of sin and repentance of sin are open to interpreta
tion and influence Hester throughout the novel. She ultimately repents but has to go through a lot before doing so.
In life we all have to deal with sin. The definition of sin and its punishment are very complex issues that are very widely debated and may never have an answer. The issue of the treatment of Hester by the Puritan society brings up some interesting questions. For instance, if the adultery Hester committed was a sin, isn't it a sin how the Puritan society treated her? Does any human deserve a punishment like Hester endured for adultery? Is adultery out of the government's restriction? Thus, to conclude, we as humans can learn something from the issues brought up through Hester's experiences and must ponder these ideas thoroughly.
As a result of this sin of adultery Hester as by Puritan Law and her own sense of remorse repents. The Puritans spurn her an
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