There were so many different sins committed by various people in The Scarlet Letter. In the Quaker community any sin was just awful and whoever committed it should be punished tremendously. A small sin was terrible in the eyes of a Quaker citizen and a larger sin, such as adultery, is terribly horrendous!
There were many sins committed in this story such as of course adultery, lying, and actions of revenge which are pretty bad and serious sins. I think the worst sin of them all committed in this story was the sins of Roger Chillingworth.
Hester's sin of committing adultery was such a disgrace in the Quaker community. It was considered a huge sin because it not only went against their beliefs in their community but it was even written in the bible! Dimsdale sinned by also committing adultery and then continuing his secret life ironically as the Reverend. They both had wronged and sinned pretty largely but I feel like Hester and Dimsdale's sins are more acceptable than that of Roger Chillingworth.
Roger Chillingworth felt like he had been greatly wronged when Hester had the affair. He felt regret and a little responsible that he had expected young beautiful Hester to be in love and loyal to an old man like him, but other than that he felt like he had done no wrong. He considered himself a man that lived by good principles. He really wasn't that bad of a man but he ended up committing the worst sin.
He felt such anger and hate towards Dimsdale and his affair with Hester that it just overtook Chillingworth. Chillingworth delighted in Dimsdale's feelings of sorrow and remorse! Roger was so focused on seeking revenge and making Dimsdale feel bad for his sins. It was mentioned in the book that Roger took on a look of evil. He really had become evil and tortured Dimsdale mentally for revenge. Dimsdal, in his last minutes of life even told Roger on the scaffold,"May God forgive thee! Thou, too, hast deeply sinned!" Those words were so true. Chillingworth really did became the person who had committed the worst sin.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
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I agree with you 100%! I did not like that nasty man at all. He was just plain mean! I loved that last part the best. But I really think he was a really bad man. :)
ReplyDeleteA agree with both of ya'll!;) haha that guy was seriously a really bad guy who wasn't very forgiving. that's what separates him from the others
ReplyDeleteamen sista! chillingworth just really creeped me out. but i kind of feel sorry for him. he sends his wife over to America for a better life, but when he finds her, she's standing on a scaffold with a kid, (who isn't his), in his arms. she is being publicly humiliated for committing adultery. i can see why he would be so mad, but he really did over-do it.
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