Theme Of Sacrifice In The Scarlet Letter

In the story, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, sacrifice runs through almost every character. One specific person who portrays this kind of trait towards the end of the book is DImmesdale. He sacrifices the sin he created with Hester and his placement with everyone else when he finally exposes the “A” for all to see. Dimmesdale is fond of Hester, but he could never share the sin he committed. No one can find out. People who are selfish never realize the impact they make on other’s lives.

From the beginning, Dimmesdale only protects himself from his Puritan beliefs. Puritans are known for punishing the sinners violently. He doesn’t share his wrong-doings out of fear when Hester had no other choice than to confess. She is noticed by others from her daughter, Pearl, who is also looked down upon because of her mother. Dimmesdale’s selfish actions cause multiple lives to live in pain for a long time. “This personage prefigured and represented in his aspect the whole dismal severity of the Puritanic code of law, which it was his business to administer in its final and closest application to the offender. Stretching forth the official staff in his left hand, he laid his right upon the shoulder of a young woman, whom he thus drew forward, until, on the threshold of the prison-door” (Hawthorne 80)
He shows an arrogant point of view because, since he is the minister, and a big part of the town, people look up to him and he doesn’t want his image to be ruined. ‘‘‘People say,’ said another, ‘that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor, takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon his congregation‘’’ (Hawthorne