Preview

Forgiven By Hester And Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
234 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Forgiven By Hester And Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter
Hester and Dimmesdale are not forgiven throughout the story from what Hawthorne has said. They aren't forgiven because at death they are separated by dirt. Also Hester comes back and wore the scarlet letter as if it was needed.

During the story Hester comes back to wear the Scarlet Letter because she didn't get forgiven. In the text, it says “But her hesitation was only for an instant,though long enough to display a scarlet letter on her breast.” With hesitation, shows she didn't get forgiven. Also in the text it says “And Hester Prynne had returned,and taken up her long forsaken shame!” Hester felt alone without Dimmesdale so they still weren't forgiven.

According to the end of the Scarlet Letter Hester dies in the town, separated
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Mastery Assignment: The Scarlet Letter
    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Mastery Assignment: The Scarlet Letter

    When Hester has to put the scarlet letter back on her dress, she felt as if she brought back all of the burdens that came along with the scarlet letter. She placed the scarlet letter back on her dress for her daughter, to comfort her.…

    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Who Is Dimmesdale's Sins In The Scarlet Letter
    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Who Is Dimmesdale's Sins In The Scarlet Letter

    Hester Prynne’s sin in the Scarlet Letter, was adultery. She committed adultery with Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. This sin in particular was one of the more frowned upon of the Puritan faith. In result of this sin, she became pregnant and gave birth to Pearl, who becomes the highlight of Hester’s life. Dimmesdale’s sin as recently explained was adultery as well. He as the priest was looked upon as the most honorable man in the community and was supposed to be considered sinless.…

    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Who Is Dimmesdale's Suffering In The Scarlet Letter
    • 1373 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Who Is Dimmesdale's Suffering In The Scarlet Letter

    According to Bruce Granger, who quotes, “The beautiful Hester, who has been wandering morally ever since they sinned together, is now more his enemy than the diabolical Chillingworth” (199). This quote is brought upon by the idea that Dimmesdale becomes lacking in will due to his strong affection for Hester, and ultimately causes Dimmesdale to have a moment in which he attempts to run away from his sin. Even though Dimmesdale wants to escape the pain of his sin by being with the woman he loves, Dimmesdale can not run away from his past and suffers from not being able to be with Hester. Another aspect to support this idea is when Dimmesdale proclaims, “Neither can I any longer live without her companionship; so powerful is she to sustain” (Hawthorne 177). This quote from the Scarlet Letter shows how significant Hester is to Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale is admitting to Hester how much he longs for her and how much he has suffered from being away from Hester. Even though Dimmesdale tells Hester of how much he longs to be with her and Pearl, Dimmesdale still feels the sin chasing after him, when he does not hold Hester’s or Pearl’s hand to walk into town. “Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?” (Hawthorne 185). Hester helps explain to Pearl that Dimmesdale…

    • 1373 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    God Caregivings Hester And Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter
    • 248 Words
    • 1 Page

    God Caregivings Hester And Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter

    Through the Scarlet letter, an argument has arose that debates whether or not God forgives Hester and Dimmesdale. A variety of things points out and indeed proves to us that God forgives both of them.…

    • 248 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis Essay
    • 1474 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    Roger Chillingworth stated this to Hester, “his spirit lacks the strength that could have borne up, as thine has, beneath a burden like thy scarlet letter” (343). Dimmesdale could preach the consequences of sin, but could neither keep himself from sinning nor own up to his sin. When Hester was put onto the scaffold, Dimmesdale spoke to her directly, as he was directed to do by the magistrates, in an effort to force her to speak of her sinner, and said, “Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him...though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to hide a guilty heart through life...Thy silence ...compel him...to add hypocrisy to sin?” (133). Dimmesdale argued that if her lover were to step down from his high status onto the scaffold beside Hester, it would be better than for him to hide his sin for eternity. Yet, Dimmesdale, the sinner, did not do this. Lastly, Dimmesdale stated when meeting with Hester, “I should long ago have thrown off these garments of mock holiness, and have shown myself to mankind as they will see me at the judgment-seat. Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!” (383-385) and ultimately expressed to her…

    • 1474 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Poor Decisions In Julius Caesar And Arthur Dimmesdale
    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Poor Decisions In Julius Caesar And Arthur Dimmesdale

    Hester gets pregnant and the townspeople begin to figure out what happened. Even though Hester admitted to her sins, she will not give any information about the father of her baby. “A sickness, a sore place, if we may so call it, in your spirit. Would you, therefore, that your physician heal the bodily evil? How may this be, unless you first lay open to him the wound or trouble in your soul? "No!--not to thee!--not to an earthly physician!" cried Mr. Dimmesdale”. One decision that Dimmesdale makes was not tell anyone his relationship with Hester Prynne. He has become so guilty about his mistake that a scarlet letter “A” has appeared on his chest. At the end of the chapter, Dimmesdale feels so guilty that he stands on the scaffold along with Hester and pearl, and confesses his sin. “With a convulsive motion he tore away the ministerial band from before his breast. It was revealed”. Moments later Dimmesdale passes away from grief he can no longer withstand. Dimmesdale made one wrong choice which eventually lead to his…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter
    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter

    Given her past, Prynne’s genuinely good character is depicted through her kindness toward everyone, especially Reverend Dimmesdale, who did less than his duty as Pearl’s father because both Prynne and Dimmesdale wanted to save his reputation as a religious leader. The scarlet letter gains a new positive meaning, “But did your reverence hear of the portent that was seen last night? A great red letter in the sky—the letter A, which we interpret to stand for Angel” (193). The once-shameful scarlet letter that stained Hester Prynne’s chest now gives her new respect from the society she lives…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Strategies In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'
    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Rhetorical Strategies In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

    Hester can atone for her sin of adultery, but every day that she keeps the secret of her lover, and the true identity of Rodger Chillingworth a secret she is committing a sin. If Hester would have “Take heeds how thou deniest to him---who, perchance, hath not the courage to grasp it for himself---the bitter, but wholesome, cup that is now presented to thy lips!”(Dimmesdale 47) things would have been infinitely better for everyone. Everyone Hester Prynne loves, she does in a hypocritical way. She loves Pearl enough to sacrifice to feed and clothe her, but she does not love Pearl enough to give her a father. Hester loves Dimmesdale, but she does not love him enough to expose his sin publicly, and she conceals her knowledge of Chillingworth. Either you love something whole-heartedly, or you don’t. Hawthorne might have portrayed Hester in a more favorable light then the other characters, but still she should have to wear a scarlet H in addition to her…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Capital Punishment In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Capital Punishment In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    Dimmesdale experiences a worse outcome. One day, Hester and Dimmesdale meet in a forest. Hester wants him to forget about his sin and move on. However, he hesitates to do so because he is the one who holds his people and honors God. Eventually, after his speech on Election Day, he confesses. He stands on the scaffold with Hester and his daughter, Pearl. Now, everyone sees the scarlet letter on the Reverend’s chest. Then, he dies on the scaffold. This is a tragic consequence of the sin. Although it can be thought that Dimmesdale doesn’t get much pain, he is fighting with himself inside him(“What”). On the other hand, after several years, Hester leaves and returns to Boston alone. Hester lives in a small cottage and is still isolated from the society. However, she continues her needlework. She works hard and tries to contribute to her society. At last, she begins to be accepted and known as a hard worker. This is when her letter A changes its meaning. At first, the scarlet letter A means adultery. Later, it becomes a symbol of able. After many years, Hester dies and is buried next to Dimmesdale, sharing a scarlet A. Hester and Dimmesdale have very different outcomes. Though Hester is publicly known for her sin, she accepts it and moves on. She works hard with her job and is always brave. On the other hand, Dimmesdale keeps everything in himself and ends up dying…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Who Is The Blame In The Scarlet Letter
    • 369 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Who Is The Blame In The Scarlet Letter

    In The Scarlet letter, Dimmesdale was blaming himself and feeling guilty in keeping his secret and making Hester take all the blame for both their sins.…

    • 369 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Freest Character in the Scarlet Letter
    • 2044 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Freest Character in the Scarlet Letter

    Hester was forced to confess her sin to the world, unlike her counterpart Dimmesdale. She was forced to be truthful and accept the punishment and stigma; “Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast,—at her, the child of honorable parents,—at her, the mother of a babe, that would hereafter be a woman, —at her, who had once been innocent, —as the figure, the body, the reality of sin” (chapter 5, page 54), This quote demonstrates how the Puritan Community placed all of the blame and burden of the sin of adultery on Hester. She was forced to accept all of the shame that…

    • 2044 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Innocence In The Scarlet Letter
    • 2499 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Innocence In The Scarlet Letter

    In Chapter Two, the narrator describes the scene of Hester Prynne walking out of the prison into the daylight. Hester 's reaction as she walks out of the prison into the crowd of people on her way to the market-place illustrates her motherly instincts. The young mother stands before the crowd with an expression that looks as if she might grasp the infant close to her chest; not to protect the infant, but hide an item sewn onto her dress. She quickly realizes that she cannot hide the shame sewn onto her dress with the shame she holds in her arms, and she then gazes around at the townspeople. A fine red letter A surrounded by fancy sewing of gold thread appears on her chest (Hawthorne 47). The young woman knows of the guilt and shame placed upon her, figuratively and literally. She knows it figuratively by the guilt and shame of having an affair. Literally by the scarlet red letter "A" sewn onto her gown with gold thread. She will not allow others to place fault on her for covering up or taking off the letter "A" from her clothing, giving her some sense innocence. In Chapter Three, Reverend Mr. Wilson tries to pressure and persuade Hester into giving up the name of the father of her baby. She refuses to speak of his name because she does not want him to bear the burden of the guilt. Reverend Mr. Wilson harshly cries out at Hester that she should not sin further than the limits of Heaven 's forgiveness. The baby in her arms will reveal to the counsel the name of Hester 's fellow sinner. He bargains with her that she can take the scarlet letter off her breast if she reveals his name. She refuses to speak the name or take the scarlet letter off her breast. Hester will bear the burden of his guilt and hers so that he can feel innocent and free (Hawthorne 61). Reverend Mr. Wilson tries to find out what man…

    • 2499 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Feminism In The Scarlett Letter
    • 1553 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Feminism In The Scarlett Letter

    The scarlet letter brings with it the punishing mockery and humiliation from her fellow Puritans, so continuing to bear this mark requires a great amount of strength. Hawthorne wrote Hester’s character to seem beautiful yet powerful in that she believes her own sinful ways cannot be redeemed or reconciled without proper punishment. Until Hester believes that she has renounced her sinful ways and learned from her mistakes, she will not allow herself or anyone in the town to remove the letter. During her discourse with Roger Chillingworth regarding the removal of the scarlet letter, Hester responds, “It lies not in the pleasure of the magistrates to take off this badge...Were I worthy to be quit of it, it would fall away of its own nature, or be transformed into something that should speak a different purport” (153). Hester believes that it is not in her own power or the power of the town to remove the scarlet letter from her bosom. Although the letter can be physically removed, it cannot be removed by God until Hester becomes worthy of its removal. Hester also discusses the removal of the scarlet letter when she faces public humiliation for her crimes near the beginning of her story. Near the end of the novel, when Hester returns from Europe to Boston without Pearl, Hester still continues to wear the letter. Hawthorne describes this event when he writes, “But her hesitation was only for an instant, though long enough to display a scarlet letter on her breast. And Hester Prynne had returned, and taken up her long-forsaken shame” (233) Although Hester has already completed her punishment of bearing the shame of the scarlet letter, she still continues to wear the letter after returning. This not only characterizes Hester as a determined woman, but also shows how the scarlet letter has become a part…

    • 1553 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hester Prynne Forgiven
    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hester Prynne Forgiven

    In the book The Scarlet Letter Nath Hawthorne believes that the more willing to forgive people is are the ones who ask for it and don't demand it. I think that in the book Hester Prynne is forgiven and Chillingworth and Dimmesdale are not forgiven. I think that because Hester was married to Chillingsworth but while he was gone for a couple of years Hester got with Dimmesdale. Hester got pregnant with her little baby Pearl. Chillingworth found out and want revenge right away. He told Hester not to tell anyone about his real identity.…

    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Identity In The Scarlet Letter
    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Identity In The Scarlet Letter

    Hester Prynne's scarlet letter is a symbol of the beauty in being true to one’s self. Her “A” is a badge she must to wear to shame her for her sin. One would think that removing the badge would come as a blessing to Hester. However, in chapter 14, Chillingworth tells Hester, “It was debated whether or not with safety to common weal, yonder scarlet letter might be taken off your bosom,” to which Hester calmly replies, “It lies not in the pleasure of magistrates to take off this badge…” (122; Ch 14). Hester wants to decide her own identity rather than allow others to choose it for her. Removing the letter would show that the letter was a symbol of shame to her and would exemplify society's power over her. Hester is shameful of her scarlet letter but would never let society know. Because the wears the…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics