Negative Effects Of The Scarlet Effect - 1551 Words

Effects of the Scarlet Letter on Dimmesdale The scarlet letter is the Puritan’s method of broadcasting Hester’s sin to the world, but it also has an internal effect on Dimmesdale. Puritanism is a strict religion where pleasure is strictly forbidden and is punishable. When Hester Prynne is discovered to have committed adultery, she is forced to wear a scarlet A, which is short for ‘adultery’. When this is first revealed, Hester stands in the jail carrying baby Pearl and, with the people jeering, is asked by Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale if she would tell the world who the Pearl’s father is; Dimmesdale is relieved when the answer is ‘no’– and it is later revealed that Dimmesdale is the father. Over the course of the novel, Dimmesdale’s†¦show more content†¦When Chillingworth enters town, Dimmesdale’s reputation begins to change because the people believe that Dimmesdale is associating with the ‘black man’- Chillingworth. The community has seen that Dimmesdale’s association with Chillingworth has had a negative impact, and that causes his reputation to suffer. From the point in time when Chillingworth entered the town, the people have seen Dimmesdale become thinner and more nervous and darkness consume Chillingworth, leading to this change in reputation. Dimmesdale has also started holding his hand over his heart frequently, leading to the communal belief that the A was having more of an effect, especially through its effect on Chillingworth and Dimmesdale: â€Å"To sum up the matter, it grew to be a widely diffused opinion, that the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, like many other personages of especial sanctity, in all ages of the Christian world, was haunted either by Satan himself, or Satan’s emissary, in the guide of old Roger Chillingworth† (112). By the end of the novel, Dimmesdale’s reputation was at it’s lowest point due to the revelation that he was Hester’s co-adulterer. The people were shocked when this was revealed, as â€Å"the multitude, silent till then, broke out in a strange, deep voice of awe and wonder, which could not as yet find utterance, save in this murmur that rolled so heavily after the departed spirit† (222). The conclusion to the novel discussed the repercussions of Dimmesdale’sShow MoreRelatedThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1153 Words   |  5 Pages i. 1. The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a romantic novel that takes place in sixteenth century Boston, Massachusetts. 2. As a romantic novel, it focuses on the various relationships between the characters and the drastic experiences caused by the scarlet letter between the four main characters being Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingsworth, and Pearl Prynne, with the condemnation of the Puritan society 3. The unknown narrator follows the novel’s main antagonistRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter869 Words   |  4 Pagesand believes that evil can overtake good. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne employs elements of Romanticism and symbolism to communicate the idea that sin and guilt have psychological effects which can turn into physical and mental manifestations. Hawthorne utilizes the romantic element of the focus on the individual to examine the effects of sin and guilt on Hester. Hester commits adultery, and is punished by being forced to wear a scarlet ‘A’, which is the symbol of the sin she committedRead MoreAnalysis Of The Scarlet Letter 1434 Words   |  6 Pagespsychological effects it has on one s body. Many works of literature have used elements of dark romanticism such as the novel â€Å"The Scarlet Letter† written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. 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Hester PrynneRead MoreThe Importance Of Human Punishment In Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter1380 Words   |  6 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter explores how the human condition and sin clash. Placing the characters in Puritan Boston, Hawthorne reveals the hypocrisy of a theocratic government, especially when it comes to punishment. Hester Prynne has committed adultery, a hideous sin which coincides as a malicious crime in such a government. The punishment consists of public humiliation branded on her chest until she dies. This type of government would lead anyone to despair, however, Hester does notRead MoreGuilt in the Scarlet Letter and the Crucible Essay995 Words   |  4 PagesScarlet Letter/Crucible Essay The presence of guilt has been felt by all human beings. As guilt grows in a persons life it eventually begins to have a deteriorating effect on the individual. In both The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible more than one of the characters are experiencing some form of guilt and the effects of the publics opinion on their own personal sins. Each characters guilt originates from a different personal problem and with each characters guilt comesRead MoreDo Shame Punishments Have A Positive Effect?1355 Words   |  6 PagesDo Shame Punishments Have a Positive Effect? Parents, teachers, and officers have utilized shame as a punishment. People have used this idea for hundreds of years, as shown in Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter. As of recent studies, psychologists try to decide whether the punishment’s benefits outweigh its drawbacks, authoritative figures must ask themselves, â€Å"do shame punishments have a positive effect?† Numerous enforcers debate whether or not to use public shame as an alternate punishment