Guilt in Puritian Society

guilt in Puritan society. The main characters include Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and

Reverend Dimmesdale. All of the characters undergo a certain degree of crime, guilt, and

punishment. Each of the characters either share the same amount of guilt, or are less guilty then

the other. Most of the sins the characters commit could have not taken place if it was not for the

one sin that led it all on. Hester’s sin plays a major role in leading on the sins of others in The

The society in which Hester Prynne lives in frowns upon her. She considers herself to be

a sinful and wrong person stating, “She knew that her deed had been evil, she could have no

faith.”(Hawthorne 82). Prynne commits the crime of adultery which she should be hung for, but

instead has to wear the letter “A” on her chest for the rest of her life. Now that her sin physically

remains with her, she constantly is reminded of what she did. Also, Pearl reminds Hester of what

Arthur Dimmesdale’s also one of the most guilty of the characters because he took part, along

part in the crime which leads on other peoples guilt. If Dimmesdale and Hester did not commit

some dark and wild peculiarity, that should correspond with the guiltiness to which she owed her

to grasp it for himself -- the bitter, but wholesome, cup that is now presented to thy lips!”(63). In

punishment for his sin. Dimmesdale does not have the courage to tell everyone that he himself

sought gold in alchemy. There is a sympathy that will make me conscious of him. I shall see him

Some topics in this essay:
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