Worried than now” (Scarlet Letter, 121). Hawthorne
Worried about sin andthe consequences of managing it, Hawthorne’s works identify his own feeling ofshame about his precursor’s aggrieving roles in the17th century Salem WitchTrials. By implication dealing with his feeling of guilt through fictionalconditions, Hawthorne uncovers his exceptionally basic perspective of thePuritans while teaching a solid moral lesson all the while. Many moral lessonsare managed in his works, including the impacts of pride as a bad habit likethat of Goodman Brown, or as a temperance like the pride of Hester Prynne whichempowers her to make up for herself; the different degrees of discipline peopleput onto themselves in confronting their novel sins; the consequences ofguilt inside the spirit which promptdeterioration of the body, as experienced by Arthur Dimmesdale and the resultsof concealing sin, similar to Arthur Dimmesdale, and of openly recognizing it,as Hester Prynne. Hawthorne acquired the Puritan convention of moral sincerity,and “TheocraticPuritans punished sinners as deviants of society and used punishments torestate boundaries within the group” (Puritan Lifestyle). The impacts ofsin are distinctive in each character similarly as every character is punishedprecisely.
One character who shows the effects of punishment is Hester Prynne.Hester confers adultery with Reverend Dimmesdale. As this act resulted in achild, she can’t conceal her sin. In the meantime, Dimmesdale’s similar singoes unnoticed “The discipline of the family in those days, was far morerigid kind than now” (Scarlet Letter, 121). Hawthornestates that “sin is but a name” (Young Goodman).
The inner and outerimpacts of sin on the human body are portrayed all through the themes Hawthornegives in his works. Hedescribes himself as “an emaciated figure, his thin cheek, his white,heavy, pain-wrinkled brow” (Scarlet Letter, 143). By taking the emotionalpunishment of guilt Arthur Dimmesdale suffers more than Hester. ArthurDimmesdale from The Scarlet Letter commits adultery, the same offense as HesterPrynne. The distinction between Dimmesdale and Hester is that Dimmesdale wasnot openly punished for his sin while Hester was.
Because of this, Dimmesdalefeels extremely guilty. This sentiment guilt is atrocious to the point that itrationally and physically shrinks him, as he feels an exceptionally solid needto atone and rinse his spirit.Theimpacts of guilt incur a significant injury to people in a various way. Guiltis typically perceived as a form of punishment for committing a sin inHawthorne’s works.Thepride Goodman Brown experiences contrast from that of Hester Prynne.
Hesterfrom The Scarlet Letter is a sample of pride, self-empowerment, and atonement.The Scarlet Letter, fantastically embroidered with gold thread” (ScarletLetter, 45) is continually worn by Hester in pride and in honor. In the city ofBoston, many people decline to the interstate the scarlet “A” by itsmain meaning. They say it means “Able”. – After several years, Hestercomes back to New England “There is a more real life for Hester Prynnehere, in New England than in the unknown region where Pearl found a home.” Here is her sin; here, her sorrow; and here is yet to be her penitence.She returns, therefore, and resumes, -of her own free will, for not thesternest magistrate of that iron period would impose it.
Never afterward did itquit her bosom” (Scarlet Letter, 123). She continues wearing the scarletletter because that the past is a critical part of her nobility; it isn’tsomething that ought to be eradicated or denied on the grounds that anotherperson chooses it is shameful. She makes a life in which the scarlet letter isa symbol of difficulty overcome and of experience achieved rather than anindication of failure and judgment. She accepts control of her own personalityand in doing as such she turns into an example for others. She is not, in anycase, the example of the sin that she planned to be. Rather she is a sample ofatonement and pride. Pride may overcome one’s life as it did to Goodman Brownor engage one’s life like Hester Prynne.Hesays, “There were high dames, well known, and wives of honored husbands,and widows, a great multitude, and ancient maidens, all of the excellentrepute, and fair young girls, who trembled lest their mothers should espythem” (Young Goodman).
He loses all faith in the community, as he says,”my faith is gone! There is no good on earth” (Young Goodman). Hebelieves he is above them as he could confront the devil. He says, “Lookup to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One!” (Young Goodman). Goodman Brown’spride is his grievous imperfection since he has excessively consequently itcauses his destruction.Thesubject of pride might be perceived as a bad habit or as a virtue inHawthorne’s works, depending on the circumstance. Goodman Brown from”Young Goodman Brown” turns into a victim of his pride and thereforehe suffers. Goodman Brown has a feeling of superiority over the rest of thevillage.
He got his feeling after he saw all the people that he considered weregood and pure participating in satanic rituals.Meanwhilereading the Nathaniel Hawthorne’s works we can easily notice their prominencefor their treatment of guilt and the complexities of good decisions. Moral andreligious concerns, in short, are almost always present in Hawthorne’s works (Foster,56). Given Hawthorne’s background, it isn’t an extension of the creativeability to state that his books are evaluated of Puritanism. Hawthorne lived inthe totally scarred New England territory, which isolated from Puritanism byjust a single generation.
His grandfather had been one of the judges in theSalem Witch Trials. Individual issues associated in the different waysHawthorne’s family and particular occasions throughout his life impacted hiswriting. Without much of a stretch perceive we can make sure that how “YoungGoodman Brown” related to the facts about his Puritan ancestors. Hisdescendants’ comments on him in The Custom House introduction to The ScarletLetter mix pride in Hawthorne’s noticeable quality and a feeling of inheritedguilt for his deeds as a judge. Hawthorne’s guilt of wrongs conferred by hisancestors was fundamental in the advancement of his literary career. Heexplores human weaknesses through of his ancestors’ period. For the most part,Hawthorne’s writings contained capable symbolic and psychological impacts ofpride, guilt, sin, and punishment.
