... 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

... 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

... 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

... Prynne commits adultery in the puritan society. The type of shunning that is done by the townspeople against Hester in centuries past by communities is based off of what were considered immoral to society during this particular time period. In the past several decades, we've expanded this type of rejection to the fine, negative science of avoidance; one that can be ... Dimmesdale and her daughter Pearl. As you can see, both victims of such crimes are seen differently and were once normal human beings before the news broke out of their "sins." Although Hester a character in a novel and R...

• Word Count: 1654
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... 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

... transgressor some chance. Hester accepts society's condemnation and does not run away from her problems. Hester does not leave the comunity and is willing to accept the consequences of her past decisions(3). Hawthorne emphasize that nobody should be treated with inhumanity and all should get a second chance. Hester, a sinner, eventually changes the way people look at her. When Hester is forced ... now be termed as fashion"(86). With this the people started accepting her back into their lives once again. Therefore, they used her talents and were willing to overlook her sins when she look...

• Word Count: 1502
• Approx Pages: 6

... 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

... . 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