In Christian theology, sin leads to death unless an individual accepts God’s free gift of forgiveness. In Dimmesdale’s case, unconfessed sin literally drives him to his demise. Dimmesdale, we realize, truly loves Hester enough to show himself on the scaffold. He shows his true love to her, without her knowing his doings. Dimmesdale is part of the group of ministers sitting in judgment over Hester when she emerges from prison.
Creon prevents the people in Thebes to bury Polynices by saying that anyone who tries to bury him will be sentenced to death. This law may be harsh, but Polynices is a traitor who attacks his homeland. Creon makes no exceptions to the rule even when he realizes Antigone, his niece, tries to bury Polynices. It is easy for Creon to let Antigone get away with her crime, but he does what he thinks is right by starving Antigone. If he lets Antigone get away with burying her brother, it will make him seem weak, and the government corrupt.
Amir is the character that is extremely similar to his father Buba, because they both have committed sins in their past. Amir by, watching Hassan his own half-brother get raped or Buba, having sex with his servant’s wife. In the beginning of the book Amir is a person who won’t stand up for himself let alone for any of his friends. Amir is a very selfish and un-loyal person to Hassan, whereas Hassan is a very loyal and selfless person. Although it all changes when Amir and Buba moves to America some of sins from the past still continue to haunt the future.
Dumas showed the readers that forgiveness ultimately leaves one feeling more satisfied than revenge. The theme of fate vs. free will is dealt with mostly by the count, but also by others seeking to control the fate of themselves and those around them. The count thinks he is sent as an instrument of God, and the only reason he was freed from prison, was to give the men who wronged him their deserved fate. Even the count realizes he can’t control fate once an innocent boy is killed because of his actions. Mercedes is also, when talking to Edmond, talking about how fate has turned her old, and her lack of faith his why it did so.
Guilt is a very big part of human conscience (except on Monday’s which have been proved by statistics as the most guilt-ridden day for most workers.) Many people tend to feel guilty about something that they have done rather it be in secret or out in the open. In Danicat’s novel “The Dew Breaker”, guilt is a demon that hunts a man that tries to run away from a dark past. The guilt that Ka’s father has about the past could never leave him alone due to all the evil deeds he had committed on innocent people. Ka’s father tries to hide his identity throughout the novel because he does not want his past to catch up with his present life.
Throughout Great Expectations, Pip is constantly feeling guilty of everything, even though he does not always deserve to feel this way. Pip’s older sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, causes Pip to have the feeling of guilt throughout his childhood and adulthood the most. As bad as it sounds, Mrs. Joe actually makes Pip feel guilty for being alive. Pip tells us this when he says, “I was always treated as if I had insisted on being born in opposition to the dictates of reason, religion, and morality, and against the dissuading arguments of my best friends.”(Dickens 22) I don’t think that it is fair for Pip to feel guilt for living at such a young age. He doesn’t know any better and could possibly end up doing something really bad because of this feeling.
Nathaniel Hawthorne goes into depth about sins that most people don’t want to hear about. During the time period of The Scarlet Letter, adultery was extremely frowned upon, and was punishable by death. Dimmesdale kept the guilt and the pain of what he had done bundled up inside; Hester`s sin was brought to light she stood on a scaffold alone as people watched; Chillingworth was letting his anger and hatred control his very being. Hester along with her baby had nothing else to do, but stand and watch as her lover stood by. As she was tried for the very thing he should be tried for.
And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud---God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together” (1151). To stand up to Danforth was very brave of him, because no one ever stood up to Danforth. Proctor hangs to remain loyal to this friends. He does not sell his friends out over a lie just to save himself.
He was upset about his father “John watched and listened, hating him.”(43) He was disgusted about Gabriel for his hypocrisy “No one, none of the saints…. his life was anything but spotless” (53) Because of his grudge against his father John wanted to take revenge “Nevertheless, this man, God’s minister,…………and wanted to kill him still.”(53) He was frustrated about his father and wanted to give him a hard lesson.
This is why he said: "And when he had lived long, and was borne to his grave...they carved no hopeful verse upon his tombstone, for his dying hour was gloom." In The Birthmark Hawthorne uses humans (specifically men) as transmitters of evil. In the story, Aylmer has his own flaws or imperfections which contribute to the flaws or imperfections of his wife Georgiana. Therefore it is not only the women that Hawthorne uses as a sign for evil. He possesses woman with flaws but as I just said, he also gives men the role of transmitters of evil.