Exposed Sin vs. Hidden Sin in the Scarlet Letter Essay

Exposed Sin vs. Hidden Sin Since the beginning of time we have shown our imperfections as human beings. As detailed by the Bible in the Book of Genesis, Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge committing the original sin. This infraction against God resulted in Adam and EveÂ’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden, and set the foundation for the judgment of mankind. The word sin derives from Old English synn and is defined as something shameful, deplorable, or utterly wrong. In this essay I will be comparing exposed sin to hidden sin as related to The Scarlet Letter, and the effects it has on people. In Nathanial HawthorneÂ’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne represents the exposed sin†¦show more content†¦At first the scarlet letter is a burden for Hester but it eventually leads to her redemption and independence. After so many years Hester is able to wear the scarlet letter proudly and dies with honor instead of disgrace. Contrarily, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale chooses to con ceals his sin which leads to the deterioration of his physical and spiritual health, and ultimately leads to his death. Dimmesdale is given several opportunities to confess his sin but refrains from doing so, looking for penitence - fasting and whipping himself - but finds no solace. After years of bearing such guilt, Dimmesdale tells the townspeople that he is HesterÂ’s secret lover and PearlÂ’s father before his death. Confessing his sin allows Dimmesdale to find peace before death however, the overwhelming guilt was too much to bear. One wonders, would admitting to adultery in the beginning have prevented DimmesdaleÂ’s demise? Roger Chillingworth arrives in Salem just in time to see Hester Prynne, his wife, with a baby on the town scaffold. He is, at first, a victim of adultery, but puts himself unnecessarily in the situation of being the villain of the story. The first time we see Chillingworth he is described as having “a remarkable intelligence in his feat ures(56)” but “slightly deformed, with the left shoulder a trifle higher than the right(55)”. As the need for revenge takes over Chillingworth we see a transformation in his demeanor, by the end ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter 1128 Words   |  5 Pagesshort stories and 4 unfinished manuscripts. The Scarlet Letter is a romantic work of fiction in a historical setting, which is considered to be his greatest work. The story was set in a Puritan settlement in the mid-1640s in Boston. A young beautiful woman named Hester Bryne , who is required to wear a letter ‘’A’’ in front of her breast , which is a sympol of adultery and shame , and she has to stand in front of the crowd on the scafford to be exposed to the crowd under the scaffold. While Hester