An individual, who is guilty, is one who has committed a sin and is aware of it. As individuals we often experience remorse after doing something we are ashamed of. When we experience guilt, we are also experiencing fear, we fear what others may think of us and we fear what we may think of ourselves. It is a source of pain that can follows people around like a shadow until they admit and accept it; it is strenuous to overcome because we fear the consequences. The texts suggests that guilt is an aspect in many lives, we often experience shame and regret for our actions and our thoughts; however when we admit and accept our wrongdoings, we can become more secure and proud, there will no longer be a shadow crowding over our lives, and once we …show more content…
His guilt is so strong that it influences his codependents to commit crimes that they will later regret. The longer ones guilt is hidden and suppressed the more severe the consequences, this suppressed guilt can soon spread to affect behavior and the behavior of those around the individual. This guilt had consumed John, it was all he could think of, and it was a major factor contributing to the witchcraft hysteria. His past actions had caused Abigail to transform into a sniveling, and jealous girl that would soon cause nineteen innocent people to hang. The consequences for his guilt was far from severe, if he had admitted to himself and the rest of Salem of his sin, then the witchcraft trials could have easily been avoided. Once there has been acceptance then you will easily be forgiven, peoples perspectives of you will change, when John said “My honesty is broke, Elizabeth, I am no good man.” shows he is no longer afraid to speak the truth, no matter how much it shames him. We learn that perspectives change and people change when guilt is admitted, when Elizabeth says “And yet you’ve confessed till now. That speak goodness in you.”. Letting go of guilt can free someone of the weights that carry them down, they must admit to themselves before they admit it to others, when Elizabeth says “It come to naught that I should forgive you, if you’ll not forgive yourself”, we learn that one should not seek forgiveness from others, if they have not forgiven themselves. Guilt can consume anyone, including the people around them, if someone has the slightest shred of integrity and morality then it is unavoidable, if they are aware of the sin they committed then it will be a burden on their shoulders until they admit their