In 17th-century Boston, Hester Prynne, who committed the sin of adultery, embraces the “A” label and uses it to mature and contribute to society. The Reverend Dimmesdale, on the other hand, hides his sin and lives in torment, eventually breaking down under the weight of his guilt. The contrast between the two characters teaches us an important lesson about how our lives can change depending on how we face our mistakes.
Hester’s shameful, unapologetic “A”
In 17th-century Boston, Hester Prynne broke the seventh of the Ten Commandments: don’t commit adultery. Her punishment was to wear the letter “A,” symbolizing adultery, on her chest for the rest of her life. The Boston society of the time was very strict in its moral code, and held women to particularly harsh standards. In such a society, Hester did not hide her sin, but wore it openly. People condemned her and assumed that the “A” label would forever mark her shame. But over time, Hester’s life changed the meaning of the label. Her “A,” which once stood for “adultery,” became an “A” for “Ability” and an “A” for “Angel.
At first, Hester herself fears the stigma. The letter “A” on her chest was a constant reminder of her sin, and the cold stares of the townspeople made her suffer even more. Their daily criticism deepened her mental anguish. For Hester, the letter “A” was the mark of a sinner, a symbol that added to her misery. In addition, the presence of her daughter Pearl, the product of adultery, added another challenge. Pearl was a constant reminder of Hester’s past, which caused her not only physical pain, but emotional pain as well.
But over time, Hester found new hope in Pearl. Her maternal love for Pearl made her stronger, and she began to see the scarlet letter as a lesson to be learned. Raising her daughter gave Hester a new positive outlook on life. She bore her suffering in silence, refusing to give up her work in the face of social scorn. She accepted harsh treatment without complaint and asked no one for sympathy. She asked nothing of the world in return for her suffering. Instead, she quietly helped people and gradually began to earn their respect. Eventually, Hester’s “A” was transformed from a symbol of disdain to one of respect.
Hester acknowledged her sin and lived a life of atonement for it. Rather than being ashamed of her wrongdoing, she sought to grow from it. In the end, her “A” was not simply a stigma imposed by society, but a symbol of courage and atonement of her own choosing. She refused to let the sin defeat her, and she lived each day fiercely, creating her own “A”.
Reverend Dimmesdale’s invisible ‘A’
Unlike Hester, Hester’s adulterous partner, Reverend Dimmesdale, lives in denial and hides his sin. He is a respected figure in the religious community, and as such, he is held to a very high moral standard. As a minister who preaches morality and justice to his congregation from the pulpit, Dimmesdale is in a position to set an example. Ironically, however, he had to live with the sin he had committed.
He was tormented by guilt, but unable to confess his sins for fear of losing his position and honor. Dimmesdale’s self-imposed guilt caused him to wear an invisible “A” deep in his heart. No one else knew of his sin, but he could not forgive himself. His “A” was invisible, but its weight was much heavier than Hester’s.
Outwardly, Dimmesdale was living the life of a respected minister, but inwardly, he was in constant self-blame and torment. Torn between people’s expectations and his own moral failings, he sank deeper into guilt with each passing day. This internal struggle worsened his health and eventually weakened him mentally and physically. Because he was unable to take the path of Hester in admitting and atoning for his sins, he was increasingly punishing himself harshly.
Finally, when he could no longer bear the pain, he confesses his sin at the inauguration of the new governor. By publicly naming his sins, he finally achieves inner liberation. But that confession soon leads to his death, and the “A” he has carried with him all his life finally breaks him.
Each scarlet letter stamped by ourselves
Who hasn’t done something wrong? We all make mistakes, and sometimes we feel regret and self-blame for them. It’s human nature to learn and grow from our mistakes, but we often obsess over them and tie ourselves down. Like Dimmesdale, we often scarlet letter ourselves and limit our lives because of it. We feel as if our sins define us, and we mistakenly believe that they are barriers to future possibilities.
But like Hester Prynne, we need to embrace our mistakes and learn from them. Hester bore the weight of her “A” and made a new life out of it: she helped those less fortunate than herself, dedicated her life to helping others even in the face of social ills, and faced her past head-on. In doing so, she changed the meaning of the scarlet letter, and in doing so, she redeemed herself.
If you’re writing scarlet letters to yourself right now, it’s time to stop and make an effort to ask for forgiveness. We can grow from our mistakes, and our past missteps can be lessons that can guide our future in a better direction. Like Hester, we need to reflect on our mistakes and find ways to move forward instead of beating ourselves up. I have a few scarlet letters of my own, but I’m trying to use them to grow into a better person. We need to change the meaning of those letters and build a new life.
