Scarlet letter:bewilderment at Essay Example

desperately wanted relief from the burden of his secret sin on his conscience; on the other hand, he knew that revealing the truth would endanger both himself and the community's trust in him. Thus, preserving his facade and reputation became crucial personally and collectively, preventing him from admitting wrongdoing and being seen as a hypocrite and betrayer.

Some members of the community even began doubting their religion. If this man they considered holy and righteous could not live a sinless life, then how could they? Arthur himself started questioning this too, feeling engulfed by the weight of faithfully serving a world closing in on him.As a result, his health began to decline, unable to bear the burden and sorrow of his soul. His spirit had long been lost before his body failed. Hester and Arthur both grappled with the doubts surrounding their actions and whether they had committed a true sin. They did not simply engage in a sinful act out of lust or recklessness; they were genuinely in love. At the time, they believed their relationship held its own consecration, a sense of purity and holiness. Whether their love was genuine or fueled by passion, or a mixture of both, both Hester and Arthur faced the question of whether their actions were truly sinful. They were confronted with a difficult question, disregarding the thoughts of the people of Boston as irrelevant. Their focus was on how God viewed their supposed "consecration" and, more importantly, how they perceived their actions.

Both Arthur and Hester acknowledged that they had committed a genuine sin, recognizing its inherent wrongness. Arthur was filled with misery, guilt, and despair, convinced that they

would face divine judgement.He couldn't bear the burden of their secret sin but also couldn't fathom exposing it publicly.Consequently,his health deterioratedand his spirit weakened.He became emaciatedandhis voice carrieda melancholic senseof decayindicating his decline towards death.Hester too experienced loss ofsphere,but respondedin adifferent manner

Rather than losing hope completely, Hester accepted the justification of the people of Boston in labeling her and placing the "A" on her. Initially, she did not consider her actions with Arthur as evil; rather, she believed their act was sacred and pure. However, at some point in her life, she began to see their actions as sinful. She did not perceive herself as a bad person, nor did the townspeople view her that way when they eventually interpreted the "A" on her chest to represent "Able." Nevertheless, Hester abandoned her dreams and aspirations of revolutionizing how women and the world are perceived after internalizing the true meaning of the "A" and understanding how others saw her actions. She recognized that it would be impossible for a woman tainted with sin and shame to be entrusted with a mission of divine truth (Hawthorne 180). Hester acknowledged committing a genuine sin and subsequently felt both shame and remorse for what she and Arthur had done.

Both Arthur and Hester face an inner conflict regarding their identities. Arthur's guilt and shame over his secret overwhelm him and lead to the deterioration of his health, ultimately resulting in his death. In contrast, Hester approaches her sin differently. She acknowledges that her actions are considered sinful by society and does not attempt to deny or justify them. Instead of grappling with her identity like Arthur, she surrenders to the

prevailing beliefs of the time. Adultery is universally condemned in Boston, leaving no room for goodness or love to emerge from it. While Arthur futilely searches for answers until his death, Hester consciously or unconsciously aligns herself with mainstream views on adultery.