Theme Of Confession In The Scarlet Letter

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Ludwig Wittgenstein once said, “A confession has to be part of your new life” (Brainyquote.com). In order for any human to continue their life they must confess their sin first. Confessing a sin may make it seem like other people are looking badly upon you but in reality it helps your self start over and maintain happiness. Without confession, the guilt builds up and it can eventually destroy you. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne shows the effects of confessing sin and holding in guilt through the main characters, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth. One person who confesses their sin in the novel is Hester Prynne. At the beginning of the book, she is condemned at the scaffold admitting to her wrongdoing and the blame the community is giving her (Hawthorne 10). Hester accepts her faith and doesn't let it ruin her life hoping she can redeem herself from where she was before. When Hester threw her scarlet letter on the ground, she tried escaping the sin not realizing it on her only made her a better person. Hester forms into an important …show more content…
When he preaches to the public, he tries to confess his sin and be open to the people but the people praise him for telling his sin. Dimmesdale also tries to whip himself in the vigil thinking enough pain will lessen the guilt he has but this obviously does not work (Nathaniel 132). He is a victim of his own beliefs. No amounts of prayer or self-punishment can sooth the emotional distress he is going through (“The Scarlet Letter.” Literature). Even though he says he would live a better life if he confessed his sin, he does not live up to his words and the sin and guilt he holds is slowly making his life spiritually and emotionally painful (“The Scarlet Letter.” Novels). He thinks it’s his fault and feels like he is one the men who do not openly confess their sin so they can focus more on promoting the glory of
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