Scarlet Letter Impact On Society
“The Scarlet Letter” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne is based off the early colonial age of New England, where religion played a huge role in shaping society and life. Throughout the book, sin was a constant factor that plays a role in Reverend Dimmesdale’s life. Committing one of the unforgivable sins, adultery, with Hester, he lets his guilt control his life. However, it is better that Dimmesdale doesn’t confess his sin because it leads to Dimmesdale having greater influence over the community, and it helps him understand who he is in the process. After his celestial sermons, the town begins to see Dimmesdale as a pure angel; this creates a positive impact on the society because with religion as their law, an angel could help the society
…show more content…
Although Reverend Dimmesdale feels guilty for his sin, he still helps other people in their journey. For instance, after his encounter with the elderly woman, “he beheld an expression of divine gratitude and ecstasy that seemed like the shine of the celestial city on her face” that was caused because he gave her helpful words (201). This is a healthy impact Dimmesdale had on the society because he made the people he talked with feel better than before. If Dimmesdale had confessed upon the scaffold with Hester, he would not have been able to impact the townspeople, and strengthen the town’s religious roots. He helped to bolster the community’s religious roots by becoming a better preacher. Rallying the town behind his sermons, Dimmesdale had the “street and the market-place absolutely babbled… with applauses of the minister” (227). He became a far better preacher once he funneled his guilt into his sermons because it brought a fiery passion to the speeches.. This in turn, relieved some of Dimmesdale’s guilt by letting him express his sin through religion and faith. As the novel progressed he became a better figure to Hester and Pearl by spending more time with them in the forest. As Pearl spent more time with the minister, she ultimately kissed him on the scaffold, causing“a spell” to be “broken” (234). This was a great part of Dimmesdale’s life; becoming a good figure to Pearl was one of his chief goals. Becoming a better preacher, father and person was a positive impact that his “hidden” sin had on him because he influences the people around
Although Reverend Dimmesdale feels guilty for his sin, he still helps other people in their journey. For instance, after his encounter with the elderly woman, “he beheld an expression of divine gratitude and ecstasy that seemed like the shine of the celestial city on her face” that was caused because he gave her helpful words (201). This is a healthy impact Dimmesdale had on the society because he made the people he talked with feel better than before. If Dimmesdale had confessed upon the scaffold with Hester, he would not have been able to impact the townspeople, and strengthen the town’s religious roots. He helped to bolster the community’s religious roots by becoming a better preacher. Rallying the town behind his sermons, Dimmesdale had the “street and the market-place absolutely babbled… with applauses of the minister” (227). He became a far better preacher once he funneled his guilt into his sermons because it brought a fiery passion to the speeches.. This in turn, relieved some of Dimmesdale’s guilt by letting him express his sin through religion and faith. As the novel progressed he became a better figure to Hester and Pearl by spending more time with them in the forest. As Pearl spent more time with the minister, she ultimately kissed him on the scaffold, causing“a spell” to be “broken” (234). This was a great part of Dimmesdale’s life; becoming a good figure to Pearl was one of his chief goals. Becoming a better preacher, father and person was a positive impact that his “hidden” sin had on him because he influences the people around