Sin: The Inevitable Equalizer
Taylor Pendleton
15 November 2013
TSL Essay Sin: The Inevitable Equalizer
Sin is a common struggle among many people regardless of personal beliefs. People want to do well in this world, obey some moral; people want to make someone proud, even if it’s not a god. Sin is an evident topic in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hester Prynne’s sin is public knowledge, whereas Arthur Dimmesdale's identical sin is hidden. Arthur Dimmesdale, a reverend, was thought to be the most unlikely culprit of sin in Boston. Arthur Dimmesdale shows Hawthorne’s theme that sin occurs in everyone regardless of social status.
Arthur Dimmesdale illustrates Hawthorne’s theme by committing adultery with Hester Prynne but reveals much more about that act and his guilt throughout the novel. In the conclusion of the novel, Dimmesdale reveals his own scarlet letter to the crowd of townspeople. Hawthorne states that “A scarlet letter—the very semblance of that worn by Hester Prynne(242),” was seen carved into Dimmesdale’s skin. Dimmesdale had been punishing himself for the crime he committed with Hester Prynne. He revealed his mark to the crowd of townspeople; some of the townspeople ignored the mark was ever there and others almost put him in an even holier rank. Those townspeople thought Dimmesdale was so holy that he had to have been leaving a parable. The people of Boston acted as if Dimmesdale didn't put that mark there and that he was just showing his final devotion to God. Some people even acted as if the mark was placed upon Dimmesdale's chest by Roger Chillingworth-- the "evil" doctor that had been slowly poisoning the Reverend. This event shows the likeness between Prynne and Dimmesdale, yet highlights the contrasts between Boston’s societal views. Society viewed Hester as such a bad influence yet looked at Dimmesdale like he was a saint was even after he tries to confess his sin. Dimmesdale continues to show his awareness of sin by saying this “[t]here is one even
15 November 2013
TSL Essay Sin: The Inevitable Equalizer
Sin is a common struggle among many people regardless of personal beliefs. People want to do well in this world, obey some moral; people want to make someone proud, even if it’s not a god. Sin is an evident topic in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hester Prynne’s sin is public knowledge, whereas Arthur Dimmesdale's identical sin is hidden. Arthur Dimmesdale, a reverend, was thought to be the most unlikely culprit of sin in Boston. Arthur Dimmesdale shows Hawthorne’s theme that sin occurs in everyone regardless of social status.
Arthur Dimmesdale illustrates Hawthorne’s theme by committing adultery with Hester Prynne but reveals much more about that act and his guilt throughout the novel. In the conclusion of the novel, Dimmesdale reveals his own scarlet letter to the crowd of townspeople. Hawthorne states that “A scarlet letter—the very semblance of that worn by Hester Prynne(242),” was seen carved into Dimmesdale’s skin. Dimmesdale had been punishing himself for the crime he committed with Hester Prynne. He revealed his mark to the crowd of townspeople; some of the townspeople ignored the mark was ever there and others almost put him in an even holier rank. Those townspeople thought Dimmesdale was so holy that he had to have been leaving a parable. The people of Boston acted as if Dimmesdale didn't put that mark there and that he was just showing his final devotion to God. Some people even acted as if the mark was placed upon Dimmesdale's chest by Roger Chillingworth-- the "evil" doctor that had been slowly poisoning the Reverend. This event shows the likeness between Prynne and Dimmesdale, yet highlights the contrasts between Boston’s societal views. Society viewed Hester as such a bad influence yet looked at Dimmesdale like he was a saint was even after he tries to confess his sin. Dimmesdale continues to show his awareness of sin by saying this “[t]here is one even