Georgia Ferguson

Ms. Cooper Pd. 5

AP Language & Composition
12/17/14

Being Honest in the Scarlet Letter

Honesty is the best policy, a lesson every one has been taught at least once in their lifetime.
Whether its your parent attempting to coax the truth from your young mind, or a friend seeking to catch
you in the wrong. Either way, you have come to the denouement that being honest is the painless and
safer route.
Hester Prynne is an extremely strong character, and even though there isnt much about her life,
prior to when she is first introduced, Nathaniel Hawthorne puts her on a pedestal, exposing her through
public humiliation and displaying her lonely life in the Puritan community. Hester has an essential
strength that keeps her moving , and gets her past all of the drama that her society puts her through.
Hester could have been a conscientious person for her whole life, preceding to when Hawthorne
introduces her, but The Scarlet Letter brings her honest and compassionate personality to the readers
perspective. And above all of her alternative traits and features, Hester is honest. She publicly recognizes
the sin she is incriminated of, and doesnt reject the accusations. Hester acknowledges and admits to
Arthur Dimmesdale that she has been sincere with all things except for his admittance, that he played a
part in the crime committed in Chapter 17. Hester understands that what they did was wrong and feels
nothing but regret for the transgression. Hester seeks to sway Dimmesdales mindset on the matter, and
attempts to justify the crime to him, You have deeply and sorely repented. Your sin is left behind you, in
the days long past. Your present life is not less holy, in very truth, than it seems in peoples eyes.1 Hester
goes through an intense life of public grief, and even though it is harsh and rather challenging, this life
that she pursues, helps her to preserve her healthy mindset, while at this same time Dimmesdale is loosing
his rationality.

1 Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Pastor and His Parishioner." The Scarlet Letter. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest
Association, 1984. 130. Print.

Georgia Ferguson
Ms. Cooper Pd. 5
AP Language & Composition
12/17/14
Being Honest in the Scarlet Letter
Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is anything and everything but honest. Dimmesdale is physically unable to
inform his Puritan society of the part to which he played in the sham full crime, and confessing that he
has committed a great sin. He lacks the honor and loyalty that Hester acquires. He is the hypocrite of all
hypocrites, seeing as he is a well respected and greatly thought of Puritan minister, who was a huge part
of, at the time, one of the most distasteful scandals of all time. As a minister, Dimmesdale has a role in the
Puritan society that gives him the power to control his audiences thoughts and opinions. He is idolized
and admired by his entire congregation, his followers request his guidance, thoughts, and his theories on
the world. As a minister, Dimmesdale is compelled be above condemnation, and appreciates his
leadership within his parish. But with Dimmesdales conscience to the side, he does good things. His
exhortation benefits his people in living good lives. Dimmesdale believes if he were to openly assert
himself, he would lose his capability to be of any help in this sense. According to Dimmesdale, he is the
most most miserable, out of Hester and himself, because he is physically incapability to be truthful with
his followers and those in his Puritan society. Ultimately, Dimmesdale does not have near as much
stability and integrity as Hester, and eventually dies of an exuberant amount of corruption and
cowardliness.