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Guilt In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

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The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, shows the internal conflict mankind might experience throughout their lives. This novel outwardly speaks about the guilt many carry around, seen or not, and the struggle between doing what is right or choosing to keep quiet and protect their pride, making it a good example to use. Keeping guilt hidden inside will only do more harm than good, and that through the truth peace can be found. Allowing unresolved guilt to dig its claws into your humanity and morality only furthers the downfall of a person. This may be accounted to the fact that they are afraid of how the people around them will react, or the fear that their reputation might be completely ruined. A good example of this can be found within the character Arthur Dimmesdale, a Reverend in The Scarlet Letter. After committing a crime (adultery) Dimmesdale keeps quiet and never reveals what he had done until the very end. Although the Reverend does try to defend his actions by saying no good can be achieved by them, so there is no use in showing themselves for what they are - …show more content…

A good display of this is in the forest scene, when Hester and the Reverend are spending time away from the public and watching Pearl play (Hawthorne, ch.16). It’s here the Reverend is relieved of his turmoil. This goes to show that throughout the conflict there can be mediators in between that do help with struggle and bring peace. It also can prove to be a bad thing, though, and might pull in the favor of the grief filled side. With that in mind, one must be careful of which side they choose to favor, and what they truly have in mind for the future they have planned for themself. In order to maintain balance within themselves, and to ensure the utmost brightest future awaits them, they must understand that control is key and they must be the one in

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Throughout the novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the Puritan community as judgemental. Naturally, humans attempt to hide their mistakes and imperfections from the world. The protagonists of the story battle with concealing their feelings of shame from the town. Hawthorne shows that self-isolation will inevitably lead to the destruction of one’s character, suggesting that those who admit to their sins are able to thrive. He accomplishes this by contrasting character changes between Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth, and Hester Prynne.

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The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, reveals many aspects of human nature. One of Hawthorne’s prevalent themes is the way in which hidden sin affects the human soul. Through the progression of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, Hawthorne explores the dynamic way in which hidden sin ultimately induces more suffering than open ignominy, using figurative language and contrast to convey his message. Immediately before Dimmesdale gives an impassioned plea for Hester to reveal her partner in sin, Hawthorne indicates through imagery and contrast that Dimmesdale’s sin does not yet have a great impact on his livelihood. Hawthorne notes that Dimmesdale’s “eloquence and religious fervor had already given the earnest of high eminence (46).”

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Hawthorn’s Shameless Advertisement of Letting of Shame Before the age of tv ads featuring shallow message, people were brainwashed with shamelessly written romantics era books that teach deep, important lessons even modern readers can appreciate. A perfect example of this is Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, in which Hawthorne uses a shameless advertising style. Hawthorne’s advertisement focuses on Arthur Dimmesdale, a much adored but guilt haunted priest, and Hester Prynne, an aging woman who faces constant ignominy due to the letter A that she wears as punishment for adultery with Dimmesdale. Both are haunted by shame:

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In the time of Puritans, the law was not only of state but of religion. Thus, crime not only had a connection with breaking earthly law, but also committing a sin in the eyes of the heavenly law. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the Scarlet Letter fulfills its office, an office of bringing her and her community closer to God, as evident by Hester’s increase in compassion and service to the community, the way in which people view her, and by the suffering which she encounters in numerous ways. The guilt felt from the Scarlet Letter leads Hester to a life as a public servant, fulfilling her penance through service.

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Later in the novel it’s confirmed that the remorse Dimmesdale feels has taken an emotional toll on him (Hawthorne, 538). Hawthorne expressed the emotional toll of judgment and justification on Hester when she states refers to the world as “hostile” (Hawthorne, 541). It is important to note that she calls her heart “bitter,” therefore, implying that the judgment she has endure has changed her, and contemplates if her child should experience this pain. Hawthorne demonstrates Hester’s internalization of the judgment and negative perception from her peers. In many other chapters, Hester perceives Pearl as a positive outcome of her sin, but in this particular quotation, Hester is questioning is living is worth it.

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