Themes
The Choices People Make Determine What They Become-
The scarlet letter that Hester wears upon her bosom throughout the story quickly becomes associated with her and her identity. Through the sin Hester commits, a new identity develops in association with her. Hester becomes that women, the adulterer. Hawthorne describes, "The truth was, that the little Puritans...bad got a vague idea of something outstandish, unearthly, or at variance with ordinary fashions, in the mother and child" (87). Hawthorne's descriptions of the children show that they see Hester as well as Pearl differently. This different view is a result of Hester's choices. She becomes the representation of adultery because of her one fall into temptation. Hester's decision to not tell anybody the truth also determines how Mr. Dimmesdale sees her. Although people are upset that she does not admit to who the father is, it is seen as respectable and kind through Dimmesdale's eyes. Hawthorne describes, "He [Dimmesdale] now drew back, with a long respiration. 'Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman's heart! She will not speak!' " (63). Through Hester's choice to hold her tongue, Dimmesdale is safe from the public knowing the truth and because of this, Hester is seen as kind. The idea that through Hester sin she becomes "the adulterer", and through her choice to keep the truth she becomes a kind person, conveys the higher purpose that the choices people make determine what they become or what their identity is to other. The irony of this, however, may be used to convey the idea of the hypocracy of the Puritan's. Hester is a sinner, an adulterer, but a kind person, yet she is punished; those judging her, which is a sin, are not kind people yet are not punished. The irony of ignorant, mean sinners, judging an admittant, kind sinner, may be used to convey another higher purpose of Hawthorne's which is the fact that the Puritan were hypocritical and ignorant and quick to judge others without checking themselves first.
Guilt Can Destroy a Person, Body and Soul-
Nathaniel Hawthorne expresses the different themes of shame, sin, and guilt through his story, The Scarlet Letter. These thematic aspects apply to Hester and Dimmesdale because of the secrecy both of them hide and the guilt the secrecy creates which slowly corrodes and destroys everything about them. The guilt Dimmesdale feels results in the decay of his soul, which is diseased by his sin, guilt, and thus, "was haunted by either Satan himself, or Satan's emissary, in the guise of old Roger Chillingworth" (118). The soul is where the source of his decay starts and this decay eventually spreads to Dimmesdale's body which starts crumbling and deteriorating. Hawthorne describes, "his form grew emaciated; his voice, though still rich and sweet, had a certain melancholy prophecy of decay in it; he was often observed, on any slight alarm or other sudden accident, to put his hand over his heart, with first a flush and then a paleness, indicative pain" (111). The guilt affects the mind, soul, and body by slowly eating away Dimmsdale's body and because he believes there is no way to fully redeem himself as he continues to decay. Hawthorne not only describes the decay of Dimmesdale through guilt but also the decay of Hester through guilt. The description of Hester's decay is shown by Hawthorne's various descriptions of "chill" or "ghost" in association with Hester. There is much reference to death through comparisons such as, "turning pale as death" (63) or "tomb-like heart" (169). The guilt in both of these characters have brought them to a stage where the guilt is devouring their souls, physical bodies, and minds.
Within Each Person is The Capacity for Both Good and Evil-
Throughout the story many characters develop and grow and as seen in the case of Dimmesdale, Pearl and Hester, their growth is a relatively good thing. Chillingworth, however, transitions from a good guy, to a bad guy, and back to a good one. When first introduced, Chillingworth is known as the scholar or physician, both of which have high social rankings. Upon returning from Europe back to the town, he discovers that Hester has commited adultery and vows to seek revenge on whoever impregnated her. In the mean time, Chillingworth begins to assist Reverend Dimmesdale because the reverend is slowly decaying and needs medical assistance. As time passes, however, Chillingworth begins to suspect that Dimmesdale has something dark in his soul and this assumption leads to a change in Chillingworth's motives. Hawthorne describes, "new interests would immediately spring up, and likewise a new purpose; dark" (109). Chillingworth begins to suspect that Dimmesdale was the one who commited the sin with Hester and because of that he begins to seek revenge and his demeanor changes. Hawthorne describes, "The former aspect of an intellectual and studious man, calm and quiet, which was what she best remembered in him, had now altogether vanished, and been succeeded by an eager, searching, almost fierce, yet carefully guarded look" (158). Chillingworth had the choice of taking revenge on the man that impregnated Hester, and he took it and in doing so also transformed himself into a nasty crooked old man instead of the warm-hearted man he used to be. Once Dimmesdale dies, however, Chillingworth vanishes and he ends up giving his land to Pearl which shows the kindness that is still there now that he no longer has anyone to fight with or hate. All characters have good and evil inherent desires, but based on the events of their lives each character chooses a side to live on.
True Repentance Must Come From Within-
In The Scarlet Letter, Minister Dimmesdale does not find peace with God until the very end of his life. Multiple times has he wanted to be redeemed, forgiven, and rebirth back to the way things were before Hester and him committed sin. All the times have failed such as when in the forest with Hester and both of them get a feeling of being free from sin. Hawthorne writes, " Love, whether newly born, or aroused from a deathlike slumber, must always create a sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance, that is overflows upon the outward world" (192). A "deathlike slumber" suggests a rebirth and perhaps a fake redemption that Dimmsdale feels at that moment in time because when walking back to his house, he gets tempted to say awful, nasty comments to new and old members of the church. He still had the feeling inside of him, but when standing on the scaffold Dimmsdale realizes, " 'For thee and Pearl, be it as God shall order, and God is merciful! Let me now do the will which He hath made plain before my sight. So let me make haste to take my shame upon me' " (238). He has found peace with God and he relies and puts his burdens on God, so Dimmsdale may be free of worry and guilt; which is what a redemption should feel like. Not only does he understand his role in life, but also takes his shame that he should have taken seven years ago. His repentance was true to his heart because he accepted himself for who he is and not what others wanted him to be.