Sin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. Despite the moral principles recognized in everyone, it is so often that individuals succumb to the instant gratification of sin. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the plot is centered around a group of Puritans living in Boston Massachusetts, where the avoidance of sin is one of their most absolute doctrines. He truly captures how sin affects individuals in a strict civilization through the use of various rhetorical devices, focusing on the symbolism of the characters, the distinct tone employed to convey specific messages, and the analogies further that emphasize and develop the effects of sin on individuals.
Effects of sin on Hester Prynne The Scarlett Letter is a great novel 1850 making Nathaniel Hawthorne one of America’s greatest writers. Although published during the mid 1800’s, The Scarlett Letter was set during the 17th century in Boston, Massachusetts. During this time, Puritans had strict religious values and harsh public punishments for the people. Due to Hawthorne’s disdain for puritans, he creates vicious gossipers to bash on one of the characters.
Character Analyze on “The Things They Carried” “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’ Brien, is a story about taking responsibility for one’s actions. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is the main character of the story. Jimmy is a lieutenant in the Vietnam War, and is obsess with a girl named Martha. This obsession leads to the death of Ted Lavender.
The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, reveals many aspects of human nature. One of Hawthorne’s prevalent themes is the way in which hidden sin affects the human soul. Through the progression of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, Hawthorne explores the dynamic way in which hidden sin ultimately induces more suffering than open ignominy, using figurative language and contrast to convey his message. Immediately before Dimmesdale gives an impassioned plea for Hester to reveal her partner in sin, Hawthorne indicates through imagery and contrast that Dimmesdale’s sin does not yet have a great impact on his livelihood. Hawthorne notes that Dimmesdale’s “eloquence and religious fervor had already given the earnest of high eminence (46).”
Sinfulness Throughout the years, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter has acquired criticism from several writers, including D.H. Lawrence. Lawrence’s strong interpretation of Hester Prynne is different from that of other authors. His disapproval of Hester’s “heroic” portrayal in the novel is evident throughout his critique.
The book “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a complex novel that has underlying themes of sin and the responsibility for sin. The novel takes place in a Puritanical society, but two people, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, fornicate with each other, even though Hester is married to someone else. Only Hester is punished, so Dimmesdale keeps his guilt inside, not revealing it to anyone. Hester’s husband, Chillingworth, then proceeds to ruin Hester’s partner in crime, corrupting his soul and being the ultimate cause for his death. Hester, on the other hand, leads a relatively happy life after she had repented for her sin.
The ambiguity of the symbol of secret sin may reveal that, intrinsically, we are all sinners. Moreover, in Puritan society, death is predetermined—souls are chosen, before birth, to advance into either heaven or hell after they pass away. Those who are already predestined to go to hell, have no way to undo this affair. However, those who are predestined for heaven can fluke their chances of achieving this preferred afterlife—through committing unforgivable actions. Despite this, one may sin countless times in one’s lifetime and still “be eligible” for heaven.
While Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter certainly tells a compelling story, the novel also acts as a psychological study of sorts; delving deep into the minds of complex and troubled individuals. Each main character; Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth, is confronted with their own predicament to which they all react distinctively. Their responses to Hester and Dimmesdale’s sin are constructed by their own distorted perceptions of the world due to the mental illnesses they are all troubled by. Each character’s method of retaliating, coping, or succumbing indirectly reveals the illogical patterns within their mind. In Hawthorne’s
It says, “Who can say ‘I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?’” The Puritans have this exact attitude. They think it is possible to escape their human nature and the sin of this world and have a power over those who do sin, which goes against the teaching of the Bible. Romans 12:9 tells one to abhor what is evil, but to hold fast to what is good. This promotes the idea of hating the sin, but loving the sinner.
Twas the year 1630 and a strong, hardworking man that went by the name John Winthrop took the very first group of English Puritans to Massachusetts. Puritans are not as relevant today as they were back then however people should study their beliefs and how it has influenced literature to this date. Surprisingly literature has reflected the values of a Puritan by showing their hard-working skills, presenting their true devotion to god, and elevating the fear aspect of their feelings toward Hell. For starters the Puritans were noted as very dedicated laborers. For instance the journal entries, Of Plymouth Plantation written by William Bradford, “fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat,” After the majority of the Puritans fell sick
The presence of evil and sin are prevalent in all individuals’ lives. Evil and sin continuously impact one’s thinking and actions, making its sinister influence practically inescapable, even in a Puritan society of the 17th century. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne revolves around a strictly Puritan community in Boston, and explores the power of sin that surrounds each character. He goes in depth to reveal the immorality and corruption in Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth, forcing readers to question who is the greatest sinner of them all. Although many would assume Chillingworth is the worst sinner because of his lust for vengeance, ironically, it is Dimmesdale, the spineless minister.
In the novel “Scarlet Letter” the idea and concept of sin is explored. Sin is one of those untouchable and unaccepting acts in Puritan society, but throughout the book Hawthorne’s perspective and liberal opinion on sin is shown to readers. Hypocrisy is seen throughout the book with the actions of Puritans themselves and their beliefs. It is a sin that is more hidden, complicated, and less physical however it is quite prominent in this novel and its society. Hawthorne portrays a moderate way of dealing with sin; closer to readers of this time and the teachings of Islam.
Nearly every reference to the word “Puritan” in the Scarlet Letter conveys Puritan society as miserable, isolating and rigid (Hawthorne, 119-21, 127, 148, etc.). In fact, Schwartz points out that “[Hawthorne’s coverage of the whole range of Puritan life is very complete - all the way from the minister to the children of the Puritan community,” (201), and that Hawthorne’s portrayal of such figures, “created a social system… that trammelled itself as it did the people who lived under it” (207). Hawthorne’s Puritan leaders display a lack of compassion (Harper, 55), causing ‘sinners’ like Hester to feel isolated and scorned. Yet, Harper also claims that to view “Hawthorne as a Puritan basher does not proceed from a complete understanding” as Hawthorne was “proud of his Puritan ancestry” (51). Further, in the Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne makes frequent references to the importance of confession (132-33, 186-87 ) and according to Baughman, “[confession] is basic to the fabric of [The Scarlet Letter] because it is an essential of church discipline and civil law” (540).
In the “Scarlet Letter,” Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays hypocrisy of the Puritan society, where the protagonist Hester Prynne face many consequences of her actions and the how she tries to redeem herself to the society. During the seventeenth puritans believe that it is their mission to punish the ones who do not follow God’s word and it is their job to stop those from sinning. Therefore, the hypercritical puritan society punishes Hester harshly for committing adultery, but in Hester’s mind, she believes that what she did was not a sin but acts of love for her man. Eventually, she redeems herself by turning her crime into an advantage to help those in need, yet the Puritan society still view her as a “naughty bagger.” (Hawthorne 78)
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne explores recurring themes of suffering surrounding the main characters, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester and Dimmesdale both commit adultery with each other, and, as a result of this, both experience gruesome and occasionally unbearable forms of suffering. Though they undergo different forms of pain, both of their experiences are highly reliant on how the Puritan society treats them. Hester 's pain stems from the shame and estrangement she receives from the community, while Dimmesdale’s is due to the reverence with which the community regards him. Although, in spite of the fact that both Hester and Dimmesdale receive harsh penalty for their sin, by the end of the book, Hawthorne shows how their suffering is, in fact, the key to their salvation.
