Interestingly, while the title of 's novel places the
focus upon the character of , the
examination of the consequences of sin
centers more around the character of , the minister who
holds in his heart a
formidable secret sin. Moreover, this sin remains hidden for most of
Hawthorne's narrative.
Whereas Hester's sin is openly acknowledged,
she can
move forward with her life in acts of penitence and charity in order
to attain some redemption
from her sin. However, since the Reverend
Dimmesdale's sin is cloistered, he must live a life of
hypocrisy, a life
which tortures him and destroys the very fabric of his being. In Chapter XII,
the minister is so guilt-ridden that he stands on the scaffold, hoping that someone will
come by
to shame him and he can confess, but only Hester
with
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