Scarlet Letter

Bryce Hernandez
March 16, 2013
Ms. Leonard
English 11
Redeeming the Sins of the Scarlet Letter Sin is as much a part of life as anything else, and most are not simply forgiven over time for their sins. They must redeem themselves, through actions and words, for their sins. Sin and redemption is not only a theme of life, it is also a major theme in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter takes place in New England, during the Puritan Era. The novel takes place around a sin Hester Prynne commits with Reverend Dimmesdale. Hester commits adultery with Dimmesdale but only she is punished as she will not give him up. She has a daughter named Pearl. Hester has to wear a Scarlet Letter “A” as punishment. Another main character is Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth, who she thought had died prior to committing adultery. Sin and redemption is the main theme of The Scarlet Letter because of the actions of the characters, symbols, and events in the story. Sin and Redemption is the main theme of The Scarlet Letter because of the actions of the characters. For example, Hester commits adultery, and then redeems herself through her actions. “It is our Hester, the town’s own Hester. Who is so kind to the poor, helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflicted.” (Hawthorne 159). This is a member of the community speaking of Hester’s change. She commits the sin of adultery and realizes what she did was wrong. She redeems herself by helping the community and changing her image. She is forgiven by many and accepted more throughout the community. On the other hand, Reverend Dimmesdale chooses not to redeem himself at first in order to protect his image. He wants to wait until his judgment day. “Not then, Pearl, but another time…At the great judgment day.” (150). This is Dimmesdale replying to Pearl asking if and when he will take her hand, and her mother’s hand. He plans to wait until the day he dies to do so. The next reason why sin and redemption is the main theme in The Scarlet Letter is because of the symbols in it. At first, Hester has to wear the scarlet letter “A” as recognition and punishment for her sin and crime. The “A” was a symbol for adultery. “Come along, Madame Hester, and show your scarlet letter in the market place.” (52). She stands on the scaffold and shows her scarlet letter to the town as punishment. However, the scarlet letter begins to take on a different meaning as The Scarlet Letter progresses. “The letter was a symbol of her calling. Many people refused to interpret the scarlet letter “A” by its original signification. They said it meant Able.” (158). Hester’s redemption causes the scarlet letter to take on a different meaning. It stands for “Able” rather than “Adultery” because of her change and help of others in the community. The final reason why sin and redemption is the main theme in The Scarlet Letter is because of the events that happen in it. One event is Reverend Dimmesdale attempting to redeem himself. “With a convulsive motion, he tore away the ministerial band before his breast. It was revealed.” (250). Dimmesdale is standing before the town with Hester and Pearl. He reveals his own “A”. That he was the one who committed adultery with Hester, and Pearl is his daughter. Another event is what Roger Chillingworth does. “Hast thou not tortured him enough?” (169). Hester is asking Chillingworth why he continues to torment Dimmesdale, his sin. Hester finally tells Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband, and he comes to the conclusion of how great Chillingworth’s sin is. “We are not, Hester, the worst sinners in the world…That old man’s revenge has been blacker than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart.” (191). Chillingworth does, however, attempt to redeem himself. In his will, he gives Pearl all of his property and land, both in England and the New World, even though she is not his daughter. “So Pearl…became the richest heiress of her day, in the New World.” (255). Sin and redemption is the major theme of The Scarlet Letter for many reasons. The symbols of the story, the actions of the characters, and the events in the story all strongly deal with sin and redemption. The events in the story show the most significance to the theme because they physically show how the character sins, and how they redeem themselves. It shows that Roger Chillingworth sins by tormenting Dimmesdale and violates his heart. Then it shows he redeems himself by leaving the will for Pearl, even though she is not his daughter. Everyone sins and makes mistakes, but not everyone is able to redeem themselves. You should work hard to redeem yourself like Hester Prynne, not take chance and wait years like Reverend Dimmesdale.