The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a novel which portrays the message of sin and punishment, through the outcome of an adulterous relationship between Hester Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale. Throughout the novel, Hawthorne portrays the tension between Dimmesdale's guilt and the fact that he cannot confess to his sin. Dimmesdale's pain intensifies as his sin corrodes his morale, but he remains steadfast with his belief that his confession to the community would be ... of events which he has followed thus far. Dimmesdale serves as his own prosecutor and judge as he exposes himself an...

• Word Count: 1174
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate