The Consequences of Sin

The whole of The Scarlet Letter revolves around a single sin – a single act of defiance of God’s law.  For Hester the punishment of that sin was more social than either Dimmesdale’s or Chillingworth’s.  For her entire life she was constantly in “that magic circle of ignominy”(192) which surrounded her whenever she strode forth from her house.  Her sin was, however, confessed and public.  In this was the fact of a mere trial by fire that served to forge Hester into a stronger woman, if not a better one.  Dimmesdale, on the other hand, had unconfessed and unrepented sin.  The same “horrible repugnance [that lay] about her”(197) did not blacken his name, but rather turned its foul attentions to the minister’s heart.  Aided by Chillingworth, who was a “dark and terrible old man”(199), the shame of iniquity that Dimmesdale felt sapped his strength of both body and mind.  His strength faded as he became obsessed with his hypocrisy of ministry.  He eventually capitulated to death’s embrace as the struggle within became too great.  Chillingworth was likewise affected by that moment of adultery.  The desire for revenge the once-kind man felt transformed said “wise and just man into a fiend”(135).  When Dimmesdale died, Chillingworth, who had lived for several years with revenge as the goal of his efforts, had nothing left to do.  He quietly faded away a year after Dimmesdale died.  Through these three main characters Hawthorne expresses the consequences of sin, especially unconfessed and unrepented sin.

The Role of Women

Adulteresses in the 17th century were treated harshly, yet some qualities in Hester enabled her to transcend the normal expectations of a woman and lead a life that was eventually viewed as exemplary.  Hester, despite being a social outcast because of her iniquity, remained strong through years upon years of virtual exile.  What caused this?  Hester had an indomitable spirit, as is first evidenced by the elaborate A  that was “fantastically embroidered and illuminated”(46) upon her bodice.  Those who were less fortunate in the strength of their will did not fare as well, as is evidenced by Dimmesdale fading over the years as guilt ate away at him.  This spirit that Hester possessed not only let her endure under the iron hammer of social judgment but also gave her qualities that eventually redeemed her in the eyes of the people.  She “had no selfish ends”(204), and constantly made clothes and other items for those less fortunate in the way of materials than her.  These qualities of Hester’s spirit enabled her to rise above normal restrictions placed upon 17th century women and become a legend.

Marriage as an Institution

The puritanical way of observing marriage was a very strict and non-forgiving way.  Although Hester’s husband was presumed dead at sea, social restrictions still prohibited her from marrying again.  In lieu of this marriage she had an affair, which was considered a great sin indeed because her marriage vows to Mr. Prynne were still seen as sacrosanct.  This is mainly because Mr. Prynne was not confirmed dead, but only missing.  Thus the puritanical views on the sacredness of marriage (although correct) were strict on the terms of what it meant to be eligible again after a spouse’s death.

The Dualistic Nature of Humankind

Hester, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale all are presented as very realistic characters in The Scarlet Letter.  Both Hester and Dimmesdale (especially Dimmesdale) are humanized by the fact that they had an affair.  Both seemingly upright people made a mistake.  To be human is to make mistakes.  This very act of sin actually makes them seem more like everyday people to the reader, more human.  Hester is perhaps made more humane to those of us who are entranced with success stories; she is the one who persevered through all the social trials and tribulations and came out stronger because of those trials.  Dimmesdale is likewise a believable.  Throughout the novel he bears not only the mental and emotional shame of his sin but also the pain of self knowledge.  He is deemed the most holy man in the area by the people, and preaches to them God’s Word.  However, he feels acutely his hypocrisy of teaching something so pure and holy while he himself is defiled.  The internal emotional struggle allows readers with similar problems empathize with him, thus making him more human in their eyes.  Chillingworth is perhaps the most believable cliché character of the three.  He is at first a intellectual individual with a sense of compassion, but is changed into a vengeful demon.

“ ‘And what am I now?’ demanded he, looking into her face, and permitting the whole evil within him to be written on his features. ‘I have already told thee what I am! A fiend!”(134)

Thus the upright man falls into the mode of a villain like so many stories.  He is believable to use because our society is inundated with those types of characters.  Of all the many characters in this book, these three are the most human-like and believable.