The Scarlet Letter “Story of Crime, Punishment and Regeneration”

1.      Introduction

Adultery is a sin in almost every society and religion. It has been considered a sin from ancient ages. Bible says “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodes 20:14).

It is the one of 10 commandments of the bible.

Bible also states that “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and adulteress shall be put to death.”

Islam also condemns the act of adultery and one who commits should be put to death if one is married and should be whipped if bachelor.

2.      Adultery is a Sin or Crime

It is a time demanding debate that either adultery is a sin or crime?

In Hawthorn’s opinion, which is derived after analyzing his novel, adultery is sin and not a crime. And people should not be punished for committing this sin.

It is possible that someone may even not consider it a sin and take it as one’s personal act that is not harmful to the society. The person or a group may accept it normal. But if a society accepts it as normal and let commit adultery to everyone then what will be the difference between humans and animals?

3.      Historical Base of the Novel

In puritan society the adultery was not seen merely as a matter between two parties but as an act of violating social law.

In 1641, there was punishment of death for this sin. Corporal punishment and whipping was also usual punishment. Later in 1964 a law was passed that adulterer and adulteress will have to display the letter “A” on their dresses.

Nathaniel’s earliest ancestor William Hawthorne was a magistrate in Salem. He ordered the public whipping of a Quaker woman. Nathaniel takes this an act of brutality as he says

“I know not whether these ancestors of mine bethought themselves to repent, and ask pardon of heaven for their cruelties; or whether they are groaning under the heavy consequences of them, in another state of being.” (Nathaniel)

Acts of his ancestors make him to write on this issue. The main theme of the novel is under the influence of those events and decisions taken by his ancestors.

4.       Sin and the Sinners

Hester, Dimmesdale, Chillingworth and Pearl are the main character of the novel. The whole storey revolves around them.. They are all sinners.

Hester and Dimmesdale fall in love with one another. They commit the sin of adultery. Chillingworth, the husband of Hester, is sinner because he is full with the passion of revenge and agony after knowing the deed of his wife.

Pearl, in my opinion is not a sinner, is sinner in Puritan’s society because she is the product of adultery.

5.      Nature of Characters’ Sin

Hester’s sin of adultery is on the scene. Her sin is reveled and she is caught after giving birth to her baby girl Pearl.

Dimmesdale’s sin is concealed. When Hester is caught, he conceals his part in adultery. He is more sinner than Hester because he, not only, commits adultery but also shows hypocritical attitude toward that sin.

Chillingworth’s sins are unpardonable. In the start of the novel we know that he leaves the Hester. Then, when he comes back to city and sees Hester in scaffold, he does not accept her as his wife. After knowing about Hester’s act of adultery he is filled with the passion of revenge.

Pearl’s only sin is this that she is the product of the adultery that is an act of sin and crime.

6.      Punishment

Hester is punished to wear the badge of shame that is “Scarlet letter A”.

Dimmesdale punishes himself. His conscious continuously force him to confess but he cannot and suffers mentally. He punishes himself physically as well.

Chillingworth suffers mentally. He is also being punished by himself. He burns himself in agony.

Hester is not accepted by the Puritan society. She is hated because she is the result of adultery.

7.      Regeneration

In the end of the novel, almost each character is repented and regenerated. As we see that Hester becomes the ‘Sister of Mercy’ after doing well and serving society. The sign of A becomes ‘Able’ instead of adulterous.

Dimmesdale confesses his sin publically after delivering his last sermon and dies. The sign of ‘A’ appears on the sky that is understood to denote “Angle”.

Pearl gets married and lives a happy life. Society accepts her as its member.

In the case of Chillingworth we are not sure that either he is repented or not. If we see him in the perspective of leaving his wealth for Peale then we can say that he was partially regenerated.

8.      Conclusion

Every discussed character of the novel completes his journey of soul. All characters are considered sinners and get repented or regenerated at the end. Every one’s sin leads one to the maturity of one’s soul. So by examining these four characters we can conclude that novel “The Scarlet Letter” is the story of Crime, Punishment and Regeneration.