We have finally finished reading The Scarlet Letter, and I have to say that the ending of this story was pretty sad. Hawthorne really showed how a small mistake could have such a big impact in one’s life. This was exemplified with Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale throughout the following years of their lives after committing the sin of having a secret affair. Though both were guilty of the same crime, each had a different experience in response to what happened. Hester Prynne was publicly shamed and forced to wear the scarlet letter A to remind herself and others of her wrong actions. She was casted out from society and lonesome in separation. Not only did she face guilt and shame each day, she was left to take care of and raise a child on her own, who was often difficult. However, through this, Hester became a strong, independent woman. With such a hard and tough life, she was taught important lessons, and it truly changed her. Minister Dimmesdale, on the other hand, suffered in a private manner. He knew the affair with Hester was wrong and that the right thing to do was to own up to his mistake. However, he abandoned Hester when the time came. He was greatly ashamed for sleeping with one of his parishioners who was married, and even more so when he did not confess and receive punishment as she did. His fear prevented him from doing this, and so the guilt slowly ate away at him. He took to punishing himself, quietly. In addition, Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth, tortured him psychologically. He acted out on revenge and was relentlessly cruel in mistreating the poor minister. Throughout the years, Dimmesdale continued to hurt himself and be hurt by the old doctor, putting great strain on his health. Mentally and physically, he was deteriorating. It was when he was dying that he finally repented. These two characters, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, could not forgive themselves and were never able to move past their sin. When both had died and were buried, the scarlet letter A marked their shared tombstone. Their crime of adultery had followed them throughout their lives and even in death. The two had truly lived miserably. Hester was publicly hated for committing such a sin, but was able to accept the shame, learn from her mistake, and grow as an individual. Dimmesdale was admired and loved by the fellow townspeople, but silently carried the heavy burden of his sin that imposed inward guilt and shame. Their small mistake had stuck with them and had greatly affected each of them, as a person and in their daily lives. However, their one faulty act should not have defined them. It should not have been the one detail they were to be remembered for. There was more to them than just their sin, but it was something that could not go away even with time. To forgive and forget was just an aspect that Hawthorne made them incapable of.
-Alaina Fua
-Alaina Fua