What Is The Theme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, contains alternating views of sin, morals, and guilt. Society classifies Hester Prynne a sinner for committing adultery while her husband was gone. Although the town does not punish her with death, for the slight possibility that her husband might be dead, their treatment of her is grave and cruel. As part of her punishment, the townspeople require Hester to stand on the public scaffold, where she is humiliated and embarrassed, wear a scarlet letter on her chest for her entirety of her life, and is ostracized from society to a remote cottage with her daughter. The town wishes to know who the father of Hester’s child is; however, she refuses to say. Reverend Dimmesdale, an eloquent orator, is asked to persuade Hester, in public, to reveal the father, but Hester is not swayed.
Hester decides to confess to Dimmesdale Roger’s true identity, and although he is initially reluctant, he is able to forgive her. They plan an escape together, in which they would be able to start anew, with no feeling of shame or guilt; however, Pearl is not willing to embrace, or even accept, the reverend because he will not acknowledge them in public. On Election Day, Dimmesdale delivers an emotionally intense speech, which many praise, making many admire him for his holiness even more; however, he decides to reveal himself as Pearl’s father to the public and dies shortly after. Dimmesdale was able to make amends to Hester by publicly revealing his identity; however, he will have the burden of guilt and misery with him forever, even after his death. Hester and Pearl leave the town to build a new life for them; however, Hester will always be reminded of the scarlet letter, which she was forced to wear, to remind her of her sin and the misery she will always have to live