Dangers of Hidden Sin

A detailed Summary of Dangers of Hidden Sin

Sin is something society has had to deal with since mankind has known evil. In most circumstances, the sin only becomes a problem when it is kept within and manifests into something larger than it was in the first place. Keeping secrets is a detriment to one's life, which in a larger picture affects a whole society. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, secret sin is a predominant theme, which in this novel leads to changes in both emotional and physical being. In the early days of the Massachusetts colony, they are neither welcoming nor accepting of sin or different ideas and are wary of anything that may topple their pristine atmosphere. Evil should never be kept secret because it always leaves a mark.

Hester Prynne hides a significant amount of sin inside of herself, which only adds to sins that have been made an issue of public interest. Committing adultery is Hester's announced sin, and all her secret sins are results of this one instance. A sin, which is closely related to her sin of adultery, is who the father of Pearl is. She refuses to tell even under extreme pressure, "I will not speak! And my child must seek a heavenly Father; she shall never know an earthly one (47)." We later learn that the father is Arthu

Roger Chillingworth is often made to be the root of evil in the story. He is repeatedly referred to as "old Black Man...(92)", which is the devil. Chillingworth is the physician of the town and is highly respected. Chillingworth is the character with vengeance. He is Hester's husband and yet shelters, while torturing, Dimmesdale. This makes him involved in every aspect of their lives. He also appears to know that Dimmesdale is Pearl's father. He tortures Dimmesdale more and more, breaking him down part by part. Chillingworth is definitely the true evil character in this book. His evil surpasses all the sin that both Hester and Dimmesdale have. He has prevented them from having a happy life by haunting their every day lives. Chillingworth eventually dies a year after Dimmesdale because he has no one to leach off. His inheritance is left to Pearl which gives Pearl and Hester there chance to leave and search for better lives. This is the one good thing Chillingworth has done throughout the whole novel.

Pearl Prynne is swept up in this web of deceit and sin; however she is innocent. She is considered "An imp of evil, emblem and product of sin...(64)" She bears Hester and Dimmesdale's shame by just being alive. Pearl sees the truth in life and when she is denied the truths she is angry. When Dimmesdale refuses to accept the fatherly position when Pearl asked him to stand upon the scaffolding with her and Hester she is ann

Some common words found in the essay are:
Arthur Dimmesdale, Pearl Hester, Hester Prynne, Dimmesdale Pearl, Election Day, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Dimmesdale's, Chillingworth Dimmesdale's, Black Man92, , arthur dimmesdale, pearl's father, roger chillingworth, sin inside, lives chillingworth, keeping secrets,

Approximate Word count = 963
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels