Prynne And Chillingworth In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

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Josie France 10/22/2012 American Literature Mrs. Stoddard The Scarlet Letter is about the tale of three main characters and their sins: Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdal, and Roger Chillingworth. Believing her husband dead, Prynne had developed an affair with the minister of a church, Arthur Dimmesdale. She was caught, however, and sentenced to wearing a scarlet “A” on her chest, which stood for “Adulteress”. Her husband had also arrived from Europe and had vowed to find the man with whom Hester had committed her crime and seek vengeance on him. He found Dimmesdale, and from the sickly man took his price. Meanwhile, Hester raised the child she had between herself and Dimmesdale as the scarlet letter helped her change who her personality was. As stated previously, Hester…show more content…
It is a grievous sin, especially as it is in the Ten Commandments. Although she cared not of it at first, her sin changed her life. At first she was absolutely miserable, but her strong personality helped her through. She became a kind, loving, caring woman. Some people, instead of still ostracizing her because of her sin, began to look upon the “A” as a sign of strength, standing for Able rather than its original purpose. Arthur Dimmesdale was the man with whom Hester had fallen in love. He was the minister of a church, yet told his followers not of his sin and instead kept his false face as the angelic priest of God. But instead of making things better for himself, he only made them worse. By sinning and keeping it secret, he was breaking two of God's most important laws: Do not commit adultery, and do not lie. Lying not only caused Dimmesdale emotional pain, but it also appeared physically. He became weak and frail, barely able to hold his head high. Roger Chillingworth had been Hester's previous husband, before he sent her ahead to America. When he learned of Hester's betrayal, he was furious. He succumbed to his rage, and made it his

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