Guilt In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

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. She is able to do so through her natural talent of sewing and embroidery. A talent she uses, with what excess time,

She is compelled to do so by a deep inclination, an inclination which comes from the guilt that her actions bring the community shame and sin. The Scarlet Letter not only compels Hester to act, but also helps her in doing so through her unique perspective. A viewpoint of a sinner and sufferer, that is “endowed” by the Scarlet Letter and which“ gives her sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts” that she uses to most effectively aid those who are suffering and are in pain (90). The letter upon her chest also acts as “her passport into regions other women dared not tread”, allowing her to act as a special presence and helping in ways others are just incapable of, as a result of her past expeiriences(209). Hester uses this secret knowledge for her service as she, along with the Scarlet Letter, can be found at any place of sickness, sorrow or death, as made evident when she is found returning from a night of
“watching… at Governor Winthrop’s death-bed” as she was called upon to “have taken measure for a robe” (158). All of which shows how the Scarlet Letter pushes towards, and aids in, Hester giving back to her