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I focused particularly on the scene in which Mr. Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl stand on the scaffold together, following which Mr. Dimmesdale and Hester experienced a momentary transformation of their shame into sympathy from others. While on the scaffold, Mr. Dimmesdale’s hand on his heart and Hester’s letter serve as poignant reminders of their shame, the notion of Pearl serving as a “connecting link” (510) between the two as the sun rose served as a shift in their sentiments toward their situation. Culminating with a meteorological phenomena of light (a recurring image of epiphany within Dimmesdale and Hester’s relationship) and the entrance of Roger Chillingworth, the shared experience of standing on the scaffold, once in darkness and then in light, seems to mark a release in the pent-up guilt shared by Dimmesdale and Hester.
Immediately after the scaffold scene, Mr. Dimmesdale delivers a sermon that “was held to be the richest and most powerful, and the most replete with more souls than one, that had ever proceeded from his lips” (512). Only after trying to expose himself on the scaffold and bask in his guilt does the minister reach the souls of others. The power of his words stretching into the hearts of others reinforces a margin of success in his goal of repenting such sin, but quickly dissipates when his glove is returned under the idea of Satan having put it on the scaffold. Each gain in his own experience as a minister is undercut by the persistence of his guilt. While trying to distance himself from standing on the scaffold as a “visionary” night (512), the truth of Dimmesdale’s misdeeds follows him. Ultimately, such shame and secrecy proves to factor into his end.
While Dimmesdale evokes sympathy from his congregation after facing his guilt (if only for a moment) by standing alongside Hester and Pearl, Hester’s reputation develops into a more aiding figure. The transformation of “Such helpfulness was found in her… that many people refused to interpret the Scarlet A by its original signification. They said it meant Able…” (514). While Hester remains largely unchanged in her behavior, not even acknowledging the shift around her, society transforms her from its victim to another member, a more subtle change as Hester’s suffering subsides with new sympathy rather than heighten, as Dimmesdale’s does.
5 thoughts on “Shame Transformed to Sympathy in The Scarlet Letter”
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I agree that Hester’s transformation, and the shifts in societal attitudes towards her, are fascinating. It is interesting to see how by the end of The Scarlet Letter, the symbol of the scarlet letter “A” takes on a new and complex meaning. Originally it was a mark of shame and punishment for Hester, but by the end, it becomes a symbol of her strength, resilience, and ability to transcend this intense societal judgment. In the final chapters, she embroiders the letter with gold thread, embracing the symbol and making it her own, then wearing it proudly as a badge of honor. To your point, the scarlet letter also takes on a symbolic meaning for the community itself- as she becomes more involved in charitable work and respected by the other townspeople, the letter also symbolizes the capacity for redemption and the possibility of forgiveness.
I also found this aspect of the Scarlet Letter’s journey fascinating. When in the end, Hester return to her house and stays to offer advice for other who may have committed sin, I found the transformation from her being horrible to a leader quite surprising. It just seemed so improbable that the community that ostracized and shamed her would eventually view her as a figure of knowledge and overcoming sin. However, on looking back in the text for foreshadowing of her eventual reclaiming of her dignity, I found the persistence of her good character despite her sin telling. Hawthorne never described Hester as inherently sinful, but rather repeatedly demonstrated her godliness, first in accepting her punishment without resistance, then in her motherly spirt with Pearl, and in the way she never felt anger for her situation. Overall, I just found the hits throughout the text that her shame would evolve into her triumph and sympathy really interesting.
I think you bring up a really important point about the sympathy that is given to Mr. Dimmesdale from his congregation pretty instantaneously upon his sermon while Hester’s reputation is changed more subtly and largely without a change in her behavior. Additionally, I found it interesting how quickly the scarlet letter could regain its original meaning. For instance, I was intrigued by Mistress Hibbins confrontation with Hester regarding her relations with Dimmesdale. While the scarlet letter symbol has been noted as losing its original meaning at this point, Mistress Hibbins uses it to justify her claims against Hester. She explains, “I know thee, Hester; for I behold the token. We may all see it in the sunshine; and it glows like a red flame in the dark” (Hawthorne, 557).
I agree with your post, but it also raises other important points of discussion on the theme of shame and punishment in the text pertaining to sin. There seems to be a relationship between public and private shame in the story; the public shaming. which revolves around Hester as a physical manifestation of shame, cannot account for all the complexities of her affair. Instead, Hawkthorne focuses on the private emotional strife and guilt of the people involved in the affair, which he implies are more than enough punishment for all parties involved.