Something I found interesting about the ending of The Scarlet Letter is the contrast between the fate of Hester and that of Mr. Dimmesdale. While throughout the novel Hester has been shunned and looked down upon by the townspeople, in the end she is accepted. Knowing that “Hester Prynne had no selfish ends” the townspeople would to come to her and she “comforted and counseled them” (568). Meanwhile, Mr. Dimmesdale ends up dead, weighed down by the guilt of concealing his affair.
The novel seems to suggest that the concealment of sin is as bad as the sin itself. Hester does not hide the fact of her adultery, even after Pearl has grown up and left the town. After a while, as a result of Hester’s kind nature, “the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world’s scorn and bitterness” (568). This suggests that because Hester is willing to accept the consequences of her sin, she is able to move on with her life. Mr. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, is characterized by his secrecy, as it takes him many years to admit that he is Pearl’s father. This secret takes its toll on him, and he describes “this burning torture to bear upon my breast” (565). Mr. Dimmesdale has committed a double sin, being both an adulterer and a clergyman lying about his adultery. Therefore, though he and Hester both committed the same initial sin, his concealment has made his sin grow even worse. This novel seems to suggest that, even though it is tempting to hide one’s sin, in the long run it’s better to admit to it.
That’s such a great point! I, too, was surprised by how the townspeople seemed to come around and again acknowledge Hester as more than just the Scarlet Letter she wore. I thought I was especially interesting how that really mirrored real life and the expression “this, too, shall pass.” Even in a Puritan society with somebody committing adultery, eventually people will move on. And truthfully, they will find somebody new to figuratively cast a Scarlet Letter onto. In this case, Dimmesdale becomes the “new” story that washes away the fame of her sins.
Hi Erin!
I couldn’t agree more! It is clear throughout the whole book too, that the act of hiding his sin, takes a toll on Dimmensdale’s health. While Hester’s health has also been affected, in the end she ends up getting her life back. It reminds me of the idea that after you have made a mistake, no good is ever going to come from hiding that. Owning up to it is the only way to move forward. While it may be difficult at first, it will end up working out in the end. Dimmensdale didn’t own up to it because he thought it was the easy way out and it ended up coming back to hurt him.
I detected the same sentiment especially in the conversations between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth in some of the earlier chapters in which Dimmesdale attempts to justify — without exposing himself — taking one’s sin “to the grave,” so to speak, and waiting for “judgment day” in lieu of “relieving” oneself through mortal confession. Of course, Chillington absolutely rejects this notion. What’s interesting about Dimmesdale’s ultimate fate upon confessing, also, is the apparent unwillingness of the Puritan population to bear the possibility of Dimmesdale being a “sinner” or a “liar.” It is perhaps easier for them to overlook Hester’s sins, as she fits the bill of a “sinner” from the start; on the other hand, Dimmesdale is viewed as almost god-like to the Puritans. They practically worship him in his “divinity.” So, what does it say about the Puritans if the man they deem closest to their god (who acts as authority over all the “punishments” and condemnation of “sin” imposed by the Puritans) is actually a “sinner” and a “liar?” Also, the fact that Dimmesdale dies right after confessing does make it “judgment day” for him after all, doesn’t it?
This point feeds nicely into the idea of confession. Better out than in, after all. It is more noble for Hester to present herself as a sinner, to acknowledge what she’s done wrong and leave herself open to judgment and forgiveness, than it is for Dimmesdale to try to cover it up and move on. It is only through admittance of the misdeed that Hester finds her peace. I believe this also comes from a point where Dimmesdale has farther to fall; he exists at a higher point in society than Hester and has far more expectations wearing on him than does Hester, so he is naturally more hesitant to expose his failure to meet those. Lying contributes to the sin. Hiding makes it worse. Honesty is the first step to finding the holiness which has been lost.