The Puritan Society In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Can one teach a life lesson through pure misery of another? Nathaniel Hawthorne effectively portrays the Puritan society in a Dark Romantic point of view within The Scarlet Letter. He uses characters such as Hester Prynne, Reverend Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth to show the dim side of emotions. Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses these three main characters to show the responsibility one should take for his actions, the internal suffering caused by guilt, and the dangerous effects of giving into evil.
Puritan Minister, Arthur Dimmesdale’s role within The Scarlet Letter proves that it is vital for all of mankind to take responsibility for their actions no matter the consequences. Dimmesdale watched Hester Prynne and her baby, Pearl, stand up on a scaffold to be humiliated for adultery at the beginning of the novel. However, he did not go with them even though he was the other person in the relationship. Despite his part in the relationship and responsibly for fathering an illegitimate child, Dimmesdale found himself concerned about his reputation. Therefore, when Dimmesdale said, “I stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood,” (Hawthorne 209) people reacted in astonishment, and
would not only blame him for the sin, but also for covering it up for so long. On the other hand, the perception of Hester began to change a few years after she stood on the scaffold because “they said that it meant Able” (Hawthorne 113) because of her good deeds. Through this, Hawthorne argues that confronting responsibilities and becoming accountable for the actions of one’s self can repair a reputation. This shows that if one is accountable for their actions, even the negative ones, only respect can come to them in the future. Furthermore, Hawthorne used Dimmesdale to represent the way that one’s mental and emotional well-being can become harmed by severe guilt. For example, he continually wished to tell of his sin, but decided against it in order to keep an excellent reputation. Despite his best efforts, his guilt took over causing the minister to reveal his deep secret of sin. This caused him to display his sin, allowing people to see “on the breast of the unhappy minister, a scarlet letter” (Hawthorne 213). This shows the torture that he put himself through due to the guilt from not telling of being involved in the adultery. In addition, Dimmesdale says to God, “ ‘I, your pastor, whom you so reverence and trust, am utterly a pollution and a lie!” (Hawthorne 95). Hawthorne proves that guilt not only causes internal punishment, but it can also hinder relationships with Christ. He began to feel as if he was not worthy of going to Heaven because of the guilt that he faced from his sin. Therefore, guilt can lead you to lose your relationship with Christ as well. Finally, Dimmesdale became susceptible to Roger Chillingworth, who represents evil in the novel, due to his sin and guilt.
Therefore, the demon “could play upon him as he chose” (Hawthorne 92). This proves that the Devil comes closer to consuming one that feels guilty of the sin they have committed because they become ignorant to the things that go on around them. In addition to that, Chillingworth told Hester, “Better had he died at once! Never did mortal suffer what this man has suffered” (Hawthorne 124). Consequently, one can remain in a living Hell by being vulnerable to evil when they are down from the sin they have made. Hawthorne shows that evil can attempt to overwhelm one when grieving over the negative action that has been
made. The Scarlet Letter reveals that being accountable for one’s actions, the damage of guilt, and not succumbing to evil are all shown by Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. These are all emotions that are shown in Dark Romantic works such as The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne expresses that one can gain power over sin and guilt by confessing to the wrongs that have been committed.