... not being granted in their former homes in Europe. They followed the teachings of God in the Bible very strictly. They were very strict about sins, like lying and adultery, and believed in forgiveness and fair treatment of others. They were also very strict in their obedience to laws, which ... a personal sin, "the red infamy upon her breast would give a sympathetic throb (Van Kirk 28). Hawthorne expresses that it is better to confess you sins and not be hiding anything than to live with a secret. The first concerns the confession with which the author opens the book. Not that Confessio...

• Word Count: 3188
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to better their lives through repentance. Since Chillingworth's revenge has consumed him and made him inhuman he is unable to cleanse himself of his sins hence he is considered to be the greatest sinner. Because of this mortal sin he shrivels and vanishes at the end of the story. ... God. With God's grace his covenant is repairable. Since Gods covenant is repairable with humans Hester's repentance will restore her to grace and forgive her sins. Hester's sin of committing adultery with Dimmesdale is not the greatest for a number of reasons. One reason that Hester's sin is not the ... see...

• Word Count: 2203
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... in the novel. Another valuable lesson taught in the story is the effects of sins. The plot is not only based around the sins committed by Hester Pryne and Arthur Dimmesdale but also the results their sins have caused. Once the town of Boston discovers the act of adultery Hester commits, ... they have caused him. However, throughout the novel, Chillingworth learns to show forgiveness for their sins. The Scarlet Letter is a novel that can teach all high school readers about the effects of their sins. Along with the history of Puritan society and the effects of sin, The Scarlet Letter also...

• Word Count: 707
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... respect from others in that society. Characters in this novel go through their lives struggling with themselves trying to cope with the guilt and shame associated with their past actions. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, he shows the lasting effect that sin has on Hester and Dimmesdale. Hester Prynne's guilt is the ... to deal with his guilt without confessing so he can avoid losing his reputation among the people who have come to respect him. Dimmesdale decides on confessing his sins on the scaffold. To avoid his reputation from being destroyed Dimmesdale approaches t...

• Word Count: 1828
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... elaborately embroidered scarlet letter "A,"" the symbol for adulteress, which the Puritan society forces her to wear. Ostracized by society and enveloped within her own sins, Hester's situation is further blackened by the appearance of her former husband Chillingworth in New England. Throughout the story, the two men in Hester ... up in their own anguish and troubles. Hester, however, grows stronger and more morally righteous until she is actually favored by Hawthorne, despite her sins. Shunned as the undesirable model of a sinner, Hester's character is truly remarkable in how she overco...

• Word Count: 1177
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... suffering, which he intensifies and aggravates throughout the book. Chillingworth devotes his whole life to causing Dimmesdale further pain. Roger is so corrupt by his revenge that he cannot see past the sin and will never forgive. He was once a compassionate scholar, until Hester betrayed him. Although he forgives Hester, Chillingworth does not forgive Arthur, and is incapable of doing ... its own '" (155-156) This quote illustrates the depth and darkness of Chillingworth's sin. Chillingworth's vengeance is much worse than Hester or Dimmesdale's transgressions. Hester and Dimmesdale re...

• Word Count: 695
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... angel, there would be repercussions for his actions. Dimmesdale could go forth and step onto the scaffold and profess his sins, but he does not. The social implications of confessing his sins to the townspeople would be devastating to the reverend. He and the community recognizes him as a pillar of the ... Boston community. If he were to confess, Dimmesdale feels the repercussions would hurt the townspeople. Over the past seven years it is more and ... 148). A beat of pain was given by Dimmesdale's heart. The guilt is overwhelming, and seems unable to be coped with, he knows his sins, ...

• Word Count: 1021
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... punishment in life, this person has been isolated in death. This person tried to keep wrongdoing a secret, hiding it within himself. Yet the sins committed could not be kept secret, evidenced by their final disclosure shortly after death. There remains nothing honorable to show where this person lies, but ... grew out of the blackness of the person's heart. The final resting place of the wrongdoer has now been separated from other graves as the sins are manifested by natural powers. The next area is symbols in the skies. Our first instance occurs during the second famous scaffold scene. ...

• Word Count: 1118
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... committed what was considered a great sin in the time period, and it manifested differently within them. Their future and newfound identities are a projection of the past sins that they have committed. While their sin may have been a choice, the consequences from their misgivings are shown to be up to fate. While both ... major transformation in identity throughout the novel, Hester's is the most revolutionary. Hester creates a new identity for herself as a woman, completely devoid of her past sins, and in turn is shown to be a positive and empowering role model. In the final chapter an...

• Word Count: 1347
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... on her chest caused her to be isolated by the townspeople. They are all hypocrites for being the same people who go to church weekly repenting their sins. Hawthorne uses many symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne uses the colors red, black, and white to represent Hester's emotions and the emotions of ... Hawthorne employs white and light to oppose darkness as a state of self-containment. White most clearly symbolizes purity. Pearl, who has not committed any great sins nor does he hold herself back from anything, is always portrayed with the light shining on her. When Hester re...

• Word Count: 1044
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... Hawthorne really thought about sin and it's aspects like punishment. The Scarlet Letter is a novel that deals with the theme of sin. Throughout history, people have committed all types of sins, and whether they are major or minor, people have been punished. However, the severity of a punishment is very difficult to agree on. Some people feel that sinners should be harshly ... was. Others feel that a person's punishment should be based upon the severity of their crime. However, what many people overlook is the fact that in time, we all have committed sins. In The Scarlet Letter, the idea...

• Word Count: 802
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Sin and Redemption: The Effect's on One's Heart In the Scarlet Letter, sin and redemption are major reoccurring themes that are the basis of the plot. The effects of sins committed by Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and Reverend Dimmesdale are shown in many lights. The paths on route to redemption vary from character to character. Hawthorne ultimately believes that man's ... her stitching and needlework. This task serves as an outlet for all her fears and sorrows caused by her sins. It takes Hester many years of "soul searching" to become somewhat happy again. She never will enjoy the ca...

• Word Count: 614
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... , because every time Hester looks at Pearl she sees the potential good in herself. Thus, In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Pearl exists solely as a symbol of Hester's sins, positive traits, and past self, not as a character in her own right. Pearl is compassionate solely to her parents. As they both go through their different struggles, Pearl is the one thing that ... much of a symbol as anything else, if not more. In The Scarlet Letter, although Pearl is represented as a character, she is not fully developed. She physically represents Hesters sins, positive traits, and past self. Pearls ...

• Word Count: 1245
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... the two additional people, has committed the least amount of sin in the novel. However, in the eyes of the Puritan community, she has committed one of the worst possible sins that can be imagined: adultery. Though, in their eyes, she is horrendously corrupt, it is not her fault in fact; Hester is the victim of her husband, Roger Chillingworth's stupidity ... commits adultery with the abandoned Hester, and instead of admitting his sin to the public, he keeps his dark secret in his heart, much like an unwanted reminder of the past that someone of this nature would lock up but would know i...

• Word Count: 881
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... and touches the townspeople. Hester and Dimmesdale planned that they will leave for Boston and live happily ever after, however Chillingworth tried to stop them. In a parade, Dimmesdale confesses to sins and right after the confession, he died peacefully. Hester and Pearl was relieved from their guilt. The theme within the story is unconfessed ... sins leads to the destroying of the soul. Hester who was dubbed with the guilt, openly admits it thus her soul was not destroyed, instead she gathers strength and courage to ... of individual identity in the face of social judgments. After m...

• Word Count: 720
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... attempts to absolve himself at night on the scaffold with no one watching. He intends to free himself from all his inner anguish and let the town know of his sins," all the dread of public exposure had been so long been the anguish of his life never-the-less he found himself." However, Dimmesdale has tortured himself so much mentally ... and physically that he cannot get past his hallucinations. Although the scaffold is a place for humiliation and public condemning, it now has no effect because there is no one there to witness him. Instead, the scene shows ... his sermon, which the tow...

• Word Count: 917
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... from God and should not be disciplined for something that his or her mother has done. Hester and Pearl should not be condemned or tormented by the community for Hester's sins, this is an inner conflict and must be solved by the individual, not the society. God is the only one who has the authority to do so. It is said ... each person has. Pearl is the physical consequence and constant reminder of Hester's life-long sin. Her main purpose in this novel is to serve as a symbol of her mother's past. As long as Pearl is alive, so is Hester's guilt and pain. Pearl is Hester's only reason to l...

• Word Count: 1200
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... (Chapters 7-12). Pearl is unaware of who her father is, and it is Hester who refuses to answer her questions about her past. Naturally, Pearl becomes a very curious child in her secluded life from society. Pearl deems answers for her past and becomes infuriated in Hester's refusal to expose the truth. As a result of Pearl's seclusion from society, nature sympathizes with Pearl ... the minister hides. Hester is informed by the witch that she knows the minister also has a hidden sin comparable to Hester's scarlet token (6 Chapters 21-24). Dimmesdale ultimately confesses his sins of adulte...

• Word Count: 845
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... tries to totally ostracize her from everything, both physically and mentally she still sticks with it and that shows how she willing she is to accept the consequences of her past decisions. When Hester is forced to live apart from the townspeople society begins to learn what Hester's real nature is. Society is able to see her for what and who ... would now be termed as fashion" (86). With this the people started accepting her back into their lives once again. So they used her and were willing to overlook her sins when she looked to be of value to them. Even though Hester is considered t...

• Word Count: 1521
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... stumbles across a number of documents in the house's attic and among these, he discovers a manuscript bundled with a gold-embroidered patch in the shape of an "A." The manuscript was written by a past surveyor who detailed events some two-hundred years before the narrator's time. He later decides to write a fictional story based on the events from the manuscript and calls it The ... from the hate of the community. One day both Hester and Pearl were returning from a visit to a deathbed and observe Father Dimmesdale atop the town's scaffold punishing himself for his sins. The two join him...

• Word Count: 1497
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... , when it comes to adultery. People are being killed for decisions they make but then again their killers are committing not just one sin but SEVERAL! Judging and killing are sins so does it count?  That's not living by God. One is not living  by God's rules if one is not following them, whether is one self or someone else. As ... the society. Hester's crime was much more out of passion than out of malice. However, people should be able to move from what they did and leave it in the past but Hester had to carry it with her every step she took until she took her last breath.  When one ...

• Word Count: 1240
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... a reminder of the sin and of the punishment he ran away from, but also for him envying Hester, for being able to be true to herself, and explicit about her sins. While society views the letter as shame and punishment, Pearl sees it as a part of the town's ignorance. She makes it clear that she's not religious. Actually, the author makes ... from her life. As if her daughter hadn't been worth the sin just like the letter wasn't. Finally, Hester is the one most impacted by the letter. In all the past years, Hester had been alone if not for the memories of her sin: Pearl, and the letter. A...

• Word Count: 958
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . Her strong will and ability to see through the social mockery sets her apart from most in that society. Through the story she never once asks for forgiveness for her sins nor apologizes for her acts. She stands strong and takes whatever consequences come to her. Hester proves she has complete and utter pride in chapter fourteen when Chillingworth tells her ... the Puritans she is already, like her mother, pushed into the society. Pearl is a symbol of naturalism. In nearly everything she does, as a young child, she finds immense pleasure. Just past survival, pleasure is the foremost imp...

• Word Count: 1687
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... on all sorts of issues. While the scarlet letter seems to be an important symbol, it seems insignificant compared to Pearl who functions as a live symbol and a reminder of Hester's past. Even though Pearl served many purposes in this book, her primary function was as a symbol. She is the consequence of a sin committed between two people and a constant reminder of this ... 's relationship to Pearl is revealed. Additionally, the rosebush next to the rusted prison door should not be overlooked. The rosebush symbolizes nature and its ability to forgive people for their sins. The prison symbo...

• Word Count: 843
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Everyone has committed a sin either knowingly or by accident. Some sins are committed out of love, like that of Hester and Dimmesdale in "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. While others commit the sin of hate just like Chillingworth. Hester was ... 's hearts but through their eyes. I see sin better punished when it is not known. The sinner goes through more guilt and has to live with it forever unlike in the past where they belief abasement was punishment. Personally, I see abasement as a reward for sinning. There is also the fact that sin is hidden within all and God shall punish a...

• Word Count: 675
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School