Timescale and Chlorinating, on the other hand, were not s “ strong” as Hester when it came to dealing with their sins. Even though they were already well respected and effective figures in the society their sins caused them to slowly lose their self-control and their well-respected” positions in the society. However it was the opposite for Hester, she, as a widowed woman, made the best use out of her sin, found a way to live with it, slowly became more and more popular in the society, and arguably had the best ending out of these three characters. Throughout the novel different forms of sin and guilt are handled in unique ways. Main character of our story is Hester Prying. She is the center of attention, and sadly she Is also the center of sin. Hester Prune’s main sin Is adultery which Is what the whole book is pretty much about.
Hester commits this sin with Timescale but until the end of the book she is the only one that suffers from it. Her sin of adultery is shown In the quote “..
. In Lieu of these shifting scenes. AMA back the rude market- place of the Puritan settlement, with all the townspeople assembled and leveling their stern regards at Hester Prying,- yes, at herself,- who stood on the scaffold of the pillory an Infant on her arm, and the letter A, In scarlet, fantastically embroidered tit gold threat, upon her bosom. ” (peg. 41 )The scarlet letter A was the symbol of adultery in Puritan society. When we read the quote we see that in the scene that is being told by the quote, Hester is standing on the scaffold with the letter A on her chest which means she was punished to wear the scarlet letter. Another thing that Hester is guilty for is Damselfly’s supreme anger at the end of the book. Hester is guilty for hiding the truth from Timescale.
The truth that Chlorinating was her husband. Timescale let Chlorinating live with him for years and Hester knowing hat those two lived together did not tell Timescale the truth about Chlorinating. At the end when she finally told him, Timescale was full of anger for a short period of because he could not stay angry at the love of her life for so long. Hester sin of hiding the truth is shown in the quote..
O Arthur’ cried she, ‘ forgive me! Len all things else, I have striven to be truer Truth was the one virtue which I might have held fast, and did hold fast through all extremely; save when thy good,-thy life,- thy fame,- were put In question! Then I consented to a deception. But a lie is never good, even though death threaten on the other side I Dost thou not see what I would say ? That old man ! – the physician! – he whom they call Roger Chlorinating! – he was my husband! ” This is the scene where Hester finally confesses to Chlorinating. Hester takes the blame for not telling him the truth at the first place. She says she tried hard to tell the truth but then let herself to dishonesty. Hester is ashamed of her guilt and very sorry to hide the truth from Timescale. When I read the scene, to me It seemed like embarrassed to hide such a truth from her love, she was finally relieved. Besides Hess two sins Hester does not really have anything else to feel guilty for.
Some might say Pearl might be her sin but I think that falls under the same category as adultery. Hester third guilt in my opinion is that she let herself down. “ l have thought of death,’ said she,- ‘ have wished for it,-would even prayed for it, were it fit that such as I should pray for anything. Yet, if death be in this cup, I bid thee think again, ere thou beholders me quaff it. See! It is even now at my lips. ” This is the scene where Hester is talking to the physician and as seen in the quote she is telling him that she wanted death for herself and even prayed for it. And after all she still thinks death might be the best choice for her. I think this should be seen as a guilt because she has a daughter that she must take care of and most importantly death is not the answer for anything.
Our second main character is Arthur Timescale. Arthur is the minister of the town and he is well-respected by the society. Sin is shown through Timescale more than Hester throughout the book.
Timescale has the same guilt as Hester plus. Hester has misconduct’s with Timescale therefore he is also guilty of the sin f adultery. “ But with what a wild look of wonder, Joy, and honor! With what a ghastly rapture, as it were, too mighty to be expressed only by the eye and features, and therefore bursting forth through the whole ugliness of his fugue, and making itself even riotously manifest by the extravagant gestures with which he threw up his arms towards the ceiling, and stamped his foot upon the floor! Had a man seen old Roger Chlorinating, at that moment of his ecstasy, he would have had no need to ask how Satan comports himself when a precious human soul is lost to heaven, and won into is kingdom. “ But what distinguished the physician’s ecstasy from Satin’s was the trait of wonder in it! ” (peg. 95) This is where Chlorinating finally finds out the truth about Timescale. Timescale is the father of child.
It takes Chlorinating a little longer than us to find it out. And lucky Timescale he does not tell anyone. “ Lucky’ is the word for Timescale, while Hester is being tortured by the community nothing happens to him. His way of handling the sin of adultery is nothing like Hester. Timescale feels truly shameful of the sin yet he pretends like it does not exist. As we read further Damselfly’s guilt increases and he he prays to make himself feel a little better. Sin of adultery is not Damselfly’s only guilt.
He is much guilty for hiding his sin from the community. “ Come up hither, Hester, thou and little Pearl. ‘ Said the Reverend Mr.. Timescale. Mien have both been here before, but I was not with you. Come up hither once again, and we will stand all three together! ” This is a scene where Timescale is in a dream and he is on the scaffold.
He talks to Pearl and Hester in his dream and tells them to stand on the scaffold once again with him. He knows that he should have been there with them the first time and feels much guilty for it. Timescale, in my opinion, is most guilty for hiding his real identity. He is lying to the people of the community whom respect him a lot. Not only he disregards their respect he also lies to them throughout the whole story. “ People of New England…
” Stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood, here, with this woman, whose arm, more than the little strength wherewith I have crept withdrawer, sustains me at this dreadful moment, from groveling down upon my face! Lo, the scarlet letter which Hester wears! Ye have all shuddered at it! Hoped to find repose–it hath cast a lurid gleam of awe and horrible repugnance round about her. But there stood one in the midst of you, at whose brand of sin and infamy ye have not shuddered! ” (peg. 174) This is the end of the chapter 23 where Timescale finally confesses and tells the town people his real identity. Ironically he is standing on the scaffold, like he says, place where he should have been standing upon 7 years ago.
He is ashamed of it. And he should be. A well-respected man like him should definitely be ashamed of lying to people that much carry about him. Our last character is Roger Chlorinating. What makes Chlorinating different than the other 2 main characters is the fact that he did not feel any shame for his guilt (at least for his main guilt).
In the novel, the guilt of revenge was shown through this character. Chlorinating is the symbol of revenge in the Scarlet Letter. ” The intellect of Roger Chlorinating had now a sufficiently plain path before it. It was not, indeed, precisely that which he had laid out for himself to tread.
Calm, gentle, passionless, as he appeared, there was yet, we fear, a quiet depth of malice, hitherto latent, but active now, in this unfortunate old man, which led him to imagine a more intimate revenge than any mortal had ever wreaked upon an enemy. ” This is Just one quote that shows how much Chlorinating wanted revenge and how cruel he was. He Anted revenge with such passion. His plan was to physiologically torture Timescale.
Chlorinating worked for his revenge throughout the whole novel, it was more of a goal for him than a sin. Surprisingly enough when Timescale finally confessed his guilt Chlorinating had no reason to live anymore and soon he died. I think Chlorinating does not have the right to ask for revenge and mentally torture Timescale. I believe he is the main reason why most of the events in the story happened. If he never left Hester or never married her knowing that she did not love him he could protect Hester from having such a tragic life. Roger Chlorinating is guilty of wife abandonment.
Minder woman, Sir, you must know, was the wife of a certain learned man, English by birth, but who had long dwelt in Amsterdam, Enhance, some good time agony, he was minded to cross over and cast in his lot with JUS of the Massachusetts. To this purpose, he sent his wife before him, remaining himself to look after some necessary affairs. Marry, good Sir, in some two years, or less, that the woman has been a dweller here in Boston, no tidings have come of this learned gentleman, Master Prying; and his young wife, look you, being left to her own misguidance?” it is clearly said in this quote that Hester was left alone by her husband. And nothing was heard from him since he left. And Hester committed her sin when being left to her own misguidance.
A pretty woman like Hester, after being left alone by her husband, in my opinion, should not even be considered guilty for Nat she has done. The blame is on Roger Chlorinating. Chlorinating also shares he same guilt as Timescale. The guilt of lying is shown through Chlorinating in the novel. Just like his fellow Timescale Chlorinating also hides his identity. Ironically he hides his identity from Timescale. Because I will not encounter the dishonor that besmirches the husband of a faithless woman. It may be for other reasons.
Enough, it is my purpose to live and die unknown. Let, therefore, thy husband be to the world as one already dead, and of whom no tidings shall ever come. Recognize me not, by word, by sign, by look! Breathe not the secret, above all, position, his life, will be in my hands. Beware” (peg.
53) Chlorinating asks Hester to keep his identity a secret, he asks her to tell everyone that her husband is dead and never to be heard of again. Chlorinating makes Hester promise him so he can search for his revenge without being known. Hawthorne based his novel on consequences of sin, and he did an outstanding Job.
Sin of revenge, sin of adultery, and sin of hypocrisy are shown throughout the novel through different characters. Hester and Timescale were guilty of son of adultery; Timescale and Chlorinating were guilty of sin of hypocrisy; and Chlorinating was guilty of sin of revenge. Looking back, one might think that it is best to confess your sin rather than hiding from others and commit even more sin or some might think it is best to conceal it. I personally think weather you confess or conceal the consequences of committing a sin will be bad. And most importantly this is the same for everyone… Doesn’t matter if you are an ordinary man in the street, a man of distinction, or a man of wealth.
In my opinion it is best to take the responsibility for whatever sin you have done, and embrace the consequences instead of making up lies for it. God does not forgive excuses, he forgives sin!