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The scarlet letter character analysis hester
The scarlet letter hester character analysis
The scarlet letter hester character analysis
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Dimmesdale suffers differently from Hester, because while she “bore it all” to the townspeople (181), his fears forced him to hide his sin, living a life full of “nothing but despair” (177). Hester, though made a social pariah of the town, has a more honest and healthy way of dealing with her sin. Because Hester is forced to face her wrongdoings under the watchful eye of her Puritan neighbors, she did not have the same guilt of secrecy that Dimmesdale did. Dimmesdale, by hiding his sin, allows himself to become a captive to his guilt. The way that Dimmesdale dealt with his guilt was unhealthy for him, both mentally and physically.
Hester and Dimmesdale have both committed adultery, but Hester accepts and embraces what has happened. Alternatively, for Dimmesdale, enduring seven long years of guilt and sin are required to get him to finally reveal the truth. Taking so many years to do so shows how
Erin Joel Mrs. Janosy English 2H P 5 22 October 2015 Quote Explication Dimmesdale is trying to overcome a conflict within his own soul, defying his own religion, and choosing to do wrong by keeping his sin to himself. In a theocracy type community like Dimmesdale's, God is known as the supreme civil ruler, and a crime would be known as a sin. On the other hand, Hester’s sin was made known to the public, receiving the public shame and ridicule she deserved. During the duration of time when the public knew Dimmesdale was hiding his sin, “the agony with which this public tortured him” (Hawthorne 119).
In the Scarlet Letter God forgives Hester and Dimmesdale. Hester and Dimmesdale sinned seven years ago and they understand and accept they did wrong. These two have to carry the burden of guilt and stress on their shoulders, and Dimmesdale's confession in the story becomes announced. Both characters have the right to acquire forgiveness within the story because of the actions they make.
I believe that Hester Prynne and Dimmesdale should not be forgiven. They are supposed to be role models for everyone else and do the right thing. They did very wrong. The 2 most important people in town have done a sin that punishment could be death. They will cause a lot of ruckus for everyone in town.
In chapter 12 it’s noted that because Dimmesdale has not come forward about his sins, he is faced with the harsh judgment of himself and feelings of inferiority, by allowing Hester to endure the punishment alone, although both committed the sin (Hawthorne, 531). Hawthorne writes, “A mockery, indeed, but in which his soul trifled with itself” he then continues to say, “He has been driven hither by the impulse of that Remorse which dogged him everywhere” (Hawthorne, 531). Later in the novel it’s confirmed that the remorse Dimmesdale feels has too taken an emotional toll on him (Hawthorne, 538). In chapter 8, Hawthorne expressed the emotional toll of judgment and justification on Hester. Hawthorne states, “The world was hostile” (Hawthorne, 541).
Throughout Hawthorne’s novel, a direct connection can be made through narration and the events that supposedly a “pure” man has to encounter. Hawthorne encourages you to take a deeper look in the nature of sin and the corruption surrounding religion. To add ingratiate his plot and to distance himself from the narrator, Hawthorne uses a story-in-story approach to further insure his credibility, increasing the author’s ethos. Regarding his position on the nature of sin and corruption of religion, Hawthorne is not for the Puritan Church of Salem because of the corruption within the system. During chapter three, with the prior knowledge of Hester Prynne’s sin, Hawthorne exposes Minister Dimmesdale as the father and lover of Hester.
In the Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne leaves the fate of Hester and Dimmesdale in the reader's hands, and I believe they are forgiven. There's quite a few signs that point to why they are forgiven, including that Hawthorne wrote the story because he was asking for his own forgiveness. He wanted to be forgiven for the inherited guilt he received from his family, who were puritans. He battles his guilt so I believe Hester and Dimmesdale do too. Forgiveness can be earned and Hester and a Dimmesdale were capable of earning it.
Hester and Dimmesdale each are equivalent in the sin that they commit, but their lives and fates are different because Hester had to repent for her crimes while Dimmesdale bottled up his guilt inside. The indirect result of Dimmesdale’s concealment of the truth was Chillingworth’s torture, which played a large role in Dimmesdale’s untimely death. Chillingworth snapped when Hester did not reveal Dimmesdale’s crimes. Hester, in part, helped Dimmesdale in
In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Reverend Dimmesdale experiences a distressing situation where his ability to make the correct choice is tested. The choice that haunts him is whether to admit to his sin of adultery, or to continue to conceal it from the public eye in order to preserve his reputation. Hawthorne’s portrayal of Dimmesdale shows that when faced with difficult situations, people tend to choose to bury the truth as it seems like the easier thing to do. However, as we learn from Dimmesdale’s experience, failing to admit to our misdeeds eventually causes even more distress than the transgression itself.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne depicts, on pages 149 to 150, a mystical encounter between Hester and Dimmesdale that inspires the readers to think of stars. His use of intangible phrases, “the world beyond” and “disembodied beings”, relate Hester and Dimmesdale to astral or non earthly things. Hester and Dimmesdale can no longer exist within Puritan society just like a star and a planet cannot exist within the same space. Hester was disconnected with the world when other members of Puritan society discovered her sin and abandoned her for it. Dimmesdale is still appears to be connected because no one has uncovered his secret.
Enough evidence was given in the book that Hester deserves the punishment. To prove that she does, Hester was raised as a Puritan so she knew what would be the consequences she has committed adultery and is left with a baby alone to raise without a father role model. As well she is not suited to be a mother. She can’t keep Pearl.
As stated by a philosopher named Elbert Hubbard, “down in their hearts, wise men know this truth: the only way to help yourself is to help others”. Hester displays this claim through her devotion to charity in the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. She turns to assisting the needy to redeem herself, ultimately resulting in a shift of her personality. Consequently, the meaning of the scarlet letter alters to mean “able” because of this shift. The change in the meaning of the Scarlet letter shows Hester changing into a reserved women and devoting herself to performing charitable acts.
However, he will not repent for his sin until he confesses. Penitence is regret for one’s wrongdoing. Dimmesdale does not feel penitence for his sins: Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret! Thou little knowest what a relief it is, after the torment of a seven years' cheat, to look into an eye that recognizes me for what I am!
Dimmesdale sinned with Hester Prynne by committing adultery. Although this was terrible and looked down upon, his crime was self inflicting and done out of passion. After Hester was punished for the crime, Dimmesdale was overwhelmed with guilt and sadness. This showed that Dimmesdale was a good person
