Theme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter - 1109 Words

Guilt is a common, yet dangerous, emotion which causes pain to the bearer until it is resolved. It has many causes and effects, and therefore it is an effective tool that an author can use to build a character. By presenting a character’s background or motive for their sin, authors can create unique stories for characters with valuable lessons which can be applied to the life of the reader. Nathaniel Hawthorne employed the use of this concept in his novel, The Scarlet Letter. By presenting the lives of the Puritans living in Boston, he portrays the causes and effects of hidden sin and provides a reminder that no one is perfect, no matter the life they display. The theme of sin and guilt is present throughout The Scarlet Letter in the†¦show more content†¦At every instance in which Hester’s mind is drawn to the scarlet letter, the guilt she feels seems to physically burn her. Chillingworth demonstrates the effects of sin on one’s countenance and purpose. When Chillingworth discovers the sin of Hester, his life is consumed by the desire to exact revenge on the father of Pearl. As he continues his sinful work, his appearance grows increasingly haggard and evil to the point that â€Å"ever and anon, too, there came a glare of red light out of his eyes; as if the old mans soul were on fire, and kept on smouldering duskily within his breast, until, by some casual puff of passion, it was blown into a momentary flame.† The longer he stays in the colony, the more people begin to see that he almost appears to be a demon. He grows haggard and misshapen as his sin consumes every area of his life. From the time he makes his name in the village, Chillingworth’s only mission is to seek revenge, and when this mission is complete, he has nothing left to live for. He does everything in his power to prevent Hester from taking Dimmesdale away and to keep Dimmesdale from confessing on the scaffold, but he is unsuccessful. Dimmesdale dies, and Chillingworth has no more purpose. He appears to shrivel away as his strength leaves him, and it is only a year later that he dies too.Show MoreRelatedTheme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter820 Words   |  4 PagesHawthorne was a famous american author. Hawthorne’s most famous novel The Scarlet Letter was written in 1850. Throughout this novel, Hawthorne explores many different types of themes. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism of The Scarlet Letter, Pearl, and the Leech to contribute to the overall theme of guilt. To begin with, Hawthorne uses the scarlet letter â€Å"A† to contribute to the theme of Guilt. The townspeople no longer see a beautiful woman Hester Prynne, the protagonistRead MoreTheme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter719 Words   |  3 PagesThe Scarlet Letter, the story is mostly about humans committing a sin and the consequences that follow. The themes public guilt vs. private guilt and nature vs. society expresses the story’s main idea. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses character development, setting development, and sequence of events to support the themes. He conveys the themes by using tone, symbolism and word choice. The main characters that are the epitome of these themes, are Hester Prynne, Pearl, and Arthur Dimmesdale. The theme publicRead MoreTheme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter1101 Words   |  5 Pageswho became obsessed with the 1600’s and Puritan Societies. This obsession makes Nathaniel writes about times in the 1600’s in Puritan Societies. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the Scaffold, the character Dimmesdale, and Burrs to contribute to the overall theme of guilt. To begin with, Hawthorne uses the Scaffold as a symbol of guilt. Hester who is the main character of the story has committed the sin of adultery. Hester has a husband who is thought to be dead but she somehow she becomesRead MoreTheme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter1173 Words   |  5 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter captures the power of unrepented guilt and its ability to dominate the thoughts and actions of an individual. The destructive influence of guilt manifests itself through the suffering of Arthur Dimmesdale, a highly respected Puritan minister who is guilty of committing adultery with Hester Prynne. As a consequence of their illicit affair, Hester gives birth to their daughter Pearl, who serves as a living reminder of their crime. Although Dimmesdale’s sin remainsRead MoreThe Theme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne935 Words   |  4 Pagesabout the 1600’s. The Scarlet Letter is also based around the puritan community in the 1600’s. While it is not known whether this novel is based on a true story or not it still captures the attention of many readers. The story contains a lot of symbolism that is hidden and encourages the reader to dig deeper into the book. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbolism of the Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale, and Burrs to contribute to the theme of guilt. The main character,Read MoreThe Theme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1668 Words   |  7 Pagesauthor of The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne is a anti-transcendentalist which means he writes a lot about Puritans in the 1600’s. John Hathorne ( Nathaniel H. great uncle ) is also an anti-transcendentalist . The book that John wrote that goes with The Scarlet Letter is The Ministers Black Veil. It as well as this novel talks about Secret sin and how the world is good and people are dark and mysterious. Nathaniels book The Scarlet Letter talks about Secret Sin , Revenge , and Guilt. In this novelRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter - Thesis on the theme of Sin and Guilt.1773 Words   |  8 PagesOne main theme present in the work The Scarlet Lette is that of sin and guilt. Nathaniel Hawthorne attempts to show how guilt can be a form of everlasting punishment. The book represents sin and guilt through symbolism and character development. In his novel, The Scarlet Lett er, Nathaniel Hawthorne explains how the punishment of guilt causes the most suffering among those affected. As with any piece, symbolism plays an important role in representing the main ideas of a novel. The plot in TheRead MoreSin, Guilt, And The Consequences Of Silence902 Words   |  4 PagesSin, Guilt, and the Consequences of Silence Throughout the history of literature, both American and foreign, a common theme that authors incorporate into their work is the nature and consequences of sin and the weighty, lingering feeling of guilt. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an example of this type of work. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbol of the scarlet letter ‘A’ as a representation of her sin to show the novel’s theme that sin carries heavy consequencesRead MoreThe Worst Sinner in the Scarlet Letter1444 Words   |  6 PagesThe Worst Sinner in The Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter there are three main sinners presented to the reader. Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth are all written with their own forms of sin, and each has a unique coping mechanism for their sins and guilt. Sin, at this time, was a hugely important part of daily life, and punishment for one’s sins was universally seen as not only a positive thing, but a necessary action to keep the people of the colony pure. Both HesterRead MoreEssay On Transcendentalism In The Scarlet Letter894 Words   |  4 Pages In in one of his books, The Scarlet Letter, he depicts the lives of Hester Prynne, her daughter Pearl, and the people in the town with her. Hester is the town seamstress and she commits adultery with Mr. Dimmesdale, the reverend. Hester has a child whom she names Pearl. As punishment for her crime she has to wear a scarlet letter A on her chest. In the Scarlet Letter Hawthorne uses Reverend Dimmesdale, a leech, and burrs as symbols as the overarching theme of guilt. First, Hawthorne