Fate Of Hester And Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter

In the Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne leaves the fate of Hester and Dimmesdale in the reader's hands, and I believe they are forgiven. There's quite a few signs that point to why they are forgiven, including that Hawthorne wrote the story because he was asking for his own forgiveness. He wanted to be forgiven for the inherited guilt he received from his family, who were puritans. He battles his guilt so I believe Hester and Dimmesdale do too. Forgiveness can be earned and Hester and a Dimmesdale were capable of earning it. Hester is flooded with sunshine, but only after she removes her Scarlet Letter. Without the letter she is the same as everyone else and Hawthorne even says, “ the burden of shame and anguish departed from her spirit.” I believe that if she cannot be forgiven then why is it possible for the letter to be removed? The letter is more of a symbol of

When she kisses him her role of conscience is supposedly over because Hawthorn states, “Pearl’s errand as a messenger of anguish was fulfilled.” She had done all she could. The weight was lifted. Pearl no longer represented conscience because she didn't have to. Dimmesdale admittedly opens up to everyone about what he had done. The guilt isn't there anymore. He owned up to exactly what he did. He “tore away the ministerial band before his breast. It was revealed!” and in that moment the people had known it was him. Hester and Dimmesdale both have reminders everyday of their lives of their sins. Hester was punished by society, but Dimmesdale was punished by himself because of the guilt and shame he held within. Dimmesdale believes “He (God) hath proved his mercy By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast.” That's enough torture to Dimmesdale who doesn't have near as much strength as Hester, but both have been punished. With having being punished I believe that forgiveness follows because they realized their