Acceptance of Sin Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the Novel, The Scarlet Letter, about a woman forced to live on the edge of society with a red "A" on her bosom as a symbol of sinfulness. The woman, named Hester, accepts her sin as it begins to affect her life and the way people see her. She does not cover her letter and embroiders it with gold thread, so it stands out. Her action gives the reader insight to how Hester feels about her sin. Hester becomes free when she accepts her sin because she had the chance to redeem herself, she did not need to hide her sin, and she becomes individualistic. When Hester is first released from prison, the red A on her bosom has a meaning that haunts her everyday. The initial undertone gives her the opportunity …show more content…
Because Hester accepts her sin, she no longer has to keep a burning secret the way her paramour, Arthur Dimmesdale, does. In chapter two, when her sin is exposed for “a thousand unrelenting eyes” to stare at, Hester has no chance of denying it. Dimmesdale compares his situation with hers by saying, “Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!” (Hawthorne 176). His use of the word “burns” helps the reader understand his torment with his secret. Hester’s evident sin, leaves her with one less secret to worry about. Recognizing the sin as a part of her allows her to avoid much denial and secrecy that could hurt her later in life. She is not slave to her secret sin the way Dimmesdale is. As a third benefit, Hester receives independence and the competence to take care of her unruly daughter, Pearl. Hester’s sin forces her to live on the outskirts of the town and the dangerous forest. In chapter 18, she can be seen drifting “without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness” that can be compared to “the untamed forest.” Her setting provides her with the opportunity to be independent because she lives away from other people. She also chooses to take care of her fatherless child, Pearl. When the governor tries to take Pearl