Sin In The Scarlet Letter

Same Sin, Different Consequences
Punishment is the driving force for every character in The Scarlet Letter and this defines the morals and circumstances possessed by the characters in the novel. Hester is the character who is in the most obvious way being penalized, but not all of these penalizations are as clearly stated. Dimmesdale also endures several penalties. Some are shared between the sinners but others are unique to the individuals. Hester has, arguably the most difficult path to forgiveness.
Hester deals with an array of obstacles caused by her sin throughout her life. The Puritan government castigate Hester by forcing her to wear a badge of shame at all times, the scarlet letter. This is not the only tangible symbol of her sin,

They are unpleasant toward Hester and Pearl and often remind Hester of her sin. They repeatedly gossip about her and insult her directly. A group of people who attend Hester’s public humiliation on the scaffold talk about her saying, “This woman has brought shame to all of us and ought to die”(55). Furthermore they gossip saying, “Then let the Magistrates, who have made it of no effect, thank themselves if their own wives and daughters go astray”(55). This chastens Hester by isolating her from society and making her feel less important. The only person whom Hester can confide in is her own daughter, Pearl, but even Pearl finds ways to draw attention to her sin. Pearl is a double-edged sword in many ways because she is the one individual whom Hester can openly love, but when Pearl judges her mother it is much worse than the other Puritans. Pearl is not only a living symbol of her sin, but she also further embarrasses Hester and causes her to feel deep remorse. When Pearl recognizes her mother’s sin before any other basic part of Hester including her smile Hester is disturbed, “it were indeed a smile. By no means! But that first object which Pearl seemed to become aware was-shall we say it?-the scarlet letter on Hester’s bosom!” (99). This illustrates how even though Hester may seem to have one ally, her closest companion highlights and maltreats her for her sin too. Hester continues to be penalized throughout

A secret is the focus of the entire plot and keeping secrets is a difficult and painful thing to do for Hester and Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale has to protect himself, including his life and his reputation, by keeping the secret of his sin from the world. Hester, however has to keep Chillingworth’s identity a secret so he can keep his honor despite having a cheating wife. She also has to keep Dimmesdale’s secret so he does not have to face the consequences for his sin even though he is being tortured in a different way when she keeps his secret. Secrets bring forth agony for both Hester and Dimmesdale when deciding whether to keep or tell them. The calamities are not limited to the sinners because their actions affect the thing they do and the people with whom they interact. Hester’s encumbrance spreads to others, including Chillingworth and Pearl. Hester’s actions turn Chillingworth evil and he reminds her of the man he was before her sin saying, “Dost thou remember be? Was I not, thought deem me cold, nevertheless a man thoughtful for others, craving little for himself ”(180). Hester feels responsible for his downfall. She also feels guilty for Pearl’s friendless and shameful life. When she sees that Pearl has no friends and that she is a living symbol of sin she feels bad for bringing Pearl into the world.