Scarlet Letter Essay

Throughout Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” the puritan society emphasizes their strict morals and religious beliefs that sinning of any kind is not tolerated and should be confessed as the result of punishment. Hester Prynn and Arthur Dimmesdale commit the sin of adultery and only Hester confesses her partaking in the sin and receives her punishments. By Hester confessing her sin, she is able to gain forgiveness from God and feel guilt free. Meanwhile, Dimmesdale is consumed by his overpowering guilt of not confessing and enduring the punishments with Hester. Through the experiences of Hester and Dimmesdale, Hawthorne suggests that revealing sin leads to growth while concealing sin leads to guilt and self-destruction. The act of Hester confessing her sin of adultery became a pivotal moment in her journey towards personal growth.“...Hester Prynne - yes, at herself - who stood on the scaffold of the pillory, an infant in her arm, and the letter ‘A’ in scarlet, fantastically embroidered with gold thread, upon her bosom!” (pg.52).

Hester’s bold choice of making the A and eye catcher rather than a mellow solemn letter shows that she is not trying to conceal her sin, rather wear it as a badge. Since Hester confessed her sin, God helped aid her personal growth and get rid of the shame and guilt of her sin, as he has taken away the burden of her sin.“They said it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength.”(pg.148). The original meaning behind the scarlet ‘A’ placed upon her bosom meant “Adulturest,” which transferred to “Able.” This shows how Hester was able to make a reputation for herself that wasn’t defined by her sin. She broke the chains that her sin shackled her down