Repentance In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
What is repentance? Outward acknowledgement of sin results in the action of repentance. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester’s life gradually improves while Dimmesdale’s existence worsens considering he refuses to repent his sins.
Confessing her sins improves Hester’s life through her reputation, child, and confidence. When Hester’s crimes are first mention, the Puritan community wishes to hang her for her sins. The community indubitably infers that she does not deserve an ignominious punishment but rather the death penalty. However, given time, Hester’s reputation changes for the better. The community begins to interpret the scarlet letter as “mean[ing] Able, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (Hawthorne …show more content…
243). Instead of seeing Hester as a lesser being for her sin, the Puritans begin to recognize Hester’s deeds of giving money to the poor, assisting aid to help heal the sick, and raising her precious daughter. Hester’s reputation transforms from a sinner deserving death to a woman capable of amazing skill. Another improvement in Hester’s life is Pearl. Pearl, Hester’s daughter, serves as a reminder of her adultery.
Nevertheless, the precious babe is also a gift from God. Dimmesdale reminds the Puritans that “[Pearl] was meant for a blessing— for the one blessing of [Hester’s] life” (Hawthorne 170)! The Heavenly Father sends Pearl to Hester in order to grant her a blessing in her otherwises miserable life. Hester’s life is, in fact, miserable. She lives in seclusion, and she must bear the pain and humiliation of the scarlet letter. However, Hester possesses a single gift. Pearl is the one gift given to Hester and in turn acts as Hester’s will to live. A few years after her confession of sin, Hester discovers a newfound confidence. At the start of her punishment, Hester remains taciturn. Yet, walking towards the mansion years later, a servant denies Hester entrance; she responds, “Nevertheless, I will enter”; the servant interprets this confidence as Hester “[being] a great lady in the land” rather than Hester being abate ( Hawthorne 155). Ideally, the wearer of the scarlet letter shamefully struggles through life and serves as an example of the consequences of sin to others. Yet, when Hester hears about the possibility of her one gift, Pearl, being taken away from her, Hester proceeds through the town with a
newfound confidence. Others with lesser knowledge perceive Hester as a venerable lady. This confidence improves Hester’s life through opportunities. Most importantly, Hester clenches the opportunity to keep her daughter by marching into the mansion.
Hawthorne depicts Hester’s life as gradually improving while Arthur Dimmesdale’s life quickly worsens. The two characters choose different pathways. Hester repents for her sins. Dimmesdale attempts to ignore his sins. These choices result in the different outcomes of the two characters’ lives.
Confessing her sins improves Hester’s life through her reputation, child, and confidence. When Hester’s crimes are first mention, the Puritan community wishes to hang her for her sins. The community indubitably infers that she does not deserve an ignominious punishment but rather the death penalty. However, given time, Hester’s reputation changes for the better. The community begins to interpret the scarlet letter as “mean[ing] Able, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (Hawthorne …show more content…
243). Instead of seeing Hester as a lesser being for her sin, the Puritans begin to recognize Hester’s deeds of giving money to the poor, assisting aid to help heal the sick, and raising her precious daughter. Hester’s reputation transforms from a sinner deserving death to a woman capable of amazing skill. Another improvement in Hester’s life is Pearl. Pearl, Hester’s daughter, serves as a reminder of her adultery.
Nevertheless, the precious babe is also a gift from God. Dimmesdale reminds the Puritans that “[Pearl] was meant for a blessing— for the one blessing of [Hester’s] life” (Hawthorne 170)! The Heavenly Father sends Pearl to Hester in order to grant her a blessing in her otherwises miserable life. Hester’s life is, in fact, miserable. She lives in seclusion, and she must bear the pain and humiliation of the scarlet letter. However, Hester possesses a single gift. Pearl is the one gift given to Hester and in turn acts as Hester’s will to live. A few years after her confession of sin, Hester discovers a newfound confidence. At the start of her punishment, Hester remains taciturn. Yet, walking towards the mansion years later, a servant denies Hester entrance; she responds, “Nevertheless, I will enter”; the servant interprets this confidence as Hester “[being] a great lady in the land” rather than Hester being abate ( Hawthorne 155). Ideally, the wearer of the scarlet letter shamefully struggles through life and serves as an example of the consequences of sin to others. Yet, when Hester hears about the possibility of her one gift, Pearl, being taken away from her, Hester proceeds through the town with a
newfound confidence. Others with lesser knowledge perceive Hester as a venerable lady. This confidence improves Hester’s life through opportunities. Most importantly, Hester clenches the opportunity to keep her daughter by marching into the mansion.
Hawthorne depicts Hester’s life as gradually improving while Arthur Dimmesdale’s life quickly worsens. The two characters choose different pathways. Hester repents for her sins. Dimmesdale attempts to ignore his sins. These choices result in the different outcomes of the two characters’ lives.