the scarlet letter
Moral of the guilt that transform people’s hearts
Guilt empowers us to take action but can also enslave us. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic, The Scarlet Letter, sin makes a permanent `mark on a Puritan Salem Massachusetts in Boston. Through the actions and reactions of both the community and characters, we learn that guilt not only influences behavior but it also transforms us. Guilt is a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime and wrong, which can overwhelms the people and weight heavily on the heart and mind. Guilt is the primary catalyst in the transfiguration of characters in The Scarlett Letter. Dimmesdale is pain by guilt both physically and psychologically. “While standing on the scaffold, Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror of mind, as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart. This spot there was the gnawing and poisonous tooth of bodily pain.” (153) Hester is also haunted and pressed by guilt. She is even branded with her sin. Numerous times, she hid in the forest to avoid the troubles and the acts of people’s alienation. The Scarlett Letter is a well written skillful classic novel. Hawthorne’s language is stylish yet succinct and rich: “At the winking baby in her arms, and the ignominious letter in her breast” (57). As Hester is one display for the community, Hawthorne juxtaposes innocence and sin. The winking baby is pure and is pressed up against the sinful “A”. Theme, characterization, contrast, plot, and commentary are all encompassed in a phrase. Worthwhile the theme of transformation through guilt is still relevant in today’s society. Hawthorne’s theme has withstood the test of time. As the community today, people create the crime but most of them don’t feel guilty. However those who feel guilty of their crimes generally breakdown in mentally and transform into a different person just like Dimmesdales. They tend to be
Guilt empowers us to take action but can also enslave us. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic, The Scarlet Letter, sin makes a permanent `mark on a Puritan Salem Massachusetts in Boston. Through the actions and reactions of both the community and characters, we learn that guilt not only influences behavior but it also transforms us. Guilt is a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime and wrong, which can overwhelms the people and weight heavily on the heart and mind. Guilt is the primary catalyst in the transfiguration of characters in The Scarlett Letter. Dimmesdale is pain by guilt both physically and psychologically. “While standing on the scaffold, Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror of mind, as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart. This spot there was the gnawing and poisonous tooth of bodily pain.” (153) Hester is also haunted and pressed by guilt. She is even branded with her sin. Numerous times, she hid in the forest to avoid the troubles and the acts of people’s alienation. The Scarlett Letter is a well written skillful classic novel. Hawthorne’s language is stylish yet succinct and rich: “At the winking baby in her arms, and the ignominious letter in her breast” (57). As Hester is one display for the community, Hawthorne juxtaposes innocence and sin. The winking baby is pure and is pressed up against the sinful “A”. Theme, characterization, contrast, plot, and commentary are all encompassed in a phrase. Worthwhile the theme of transformation through guilt is still relevant in today’s society. Hawthorne’s theme has withstood the test of time. As the community today, people create the crime but most of them don’t feel guilty. However those who feel guilty of their crimes generally breakdown in mentally and transform into a different person just like Dimmesdales. They tend to be