... to his congregation, but they simply assume he is being humble and honor him even more. This only increases his sense of shame and guilt. Since he doesn't have the courage to tell the community, he accepts Hester's plan to escape from Boston. " Dimmesdale, unlike Hester Prynne, did sin blindly through passion, committing an act which he felt to be wrong. And ... a human heart." Yet society has no stigma to fix upon his breast. (Hawthorne 19). Hawthorne clearly indicates that Chillingworth's sin of tormenting Dimmesdale is greater than Dimmesdale's sin of adultery with his wife. Even tho...

• Word Count: 1373
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter, he describes the story as a "tale of human frailty and sorrow."" This is most likely due to the fact that all the main characters go through some sort of sorrow and hardship throughout the novel. Each is unique in it's own way and has a different effect on the character. Furthermore, each character has his/her own major flaw or sin. Roger Chillingworth ... he is mine. He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart."" (75). This was the first but not the last time for which he will declare his ...

• Word Count: 1529
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School