he moral of The Scarlet Letter is simple in contrast to it’s many deep images and subtleties. The moral of the story is that forgiveness is not something that is always an option, or even wanted. In the book, Hester Prynne has sinned greatly, and must suffer for it the rest of her life. And while over the course of several decades the people around her begin to forgive and forget, she never forgives herself or stop suffering. The same applies to Reverend Dimmsdale, who suffered in silent guilt for all those years while Hester bore the sin in public. And while the town viewed Dimmsdale as a saint, he refused their attention believing it made him even more of a hypocrite. These main reasons among other, less important or significant ones, are why the moral of the story is Forgiveness isn’t always an option, or wanted.
There are many different morals that could be interpreted as "the" moral of the story. It could be that the truth is always best. If Dimmesdale had simply told the truth at the beginning of the story, he may not have died and he definitely would not have suffered the way he did. Another possible moral is not to marry someone twenty years older than you. The moral may be about passing judgment on our peers as well. I think that the most important of these is not to judge others. If not for the judgment of the townsfolk none of all the tragedy that befell the characters would have happened.
My opinion of the moral of The Scarlet Letter is to tell the truth. The plot of the story is filled with sin such as Reverend Dimmesdale not revealing that he was the father of Pearl. If everyone in the story had told the truth, than the entire plot of the story would have been changed. If Dimmesdale and Pearl came out in the open with their secrets, and Chillingworth revealed his identity, than the "A" wouldn't have had nearly as much effect. Hester and Dimmesdale's problems only would have lasted for a few years and they could have ve moved away to England together. Instead, they kept secrets which led to Chillingworth torturing Dimmesdale, Pearl growing up without a father figure, and Hester raising Pearl as an outcast. Telling the truth in the first place would have made everybody's lives more decent in the long run.
he moral of The Scarlet Letter is simple in contrast to it’s many deep images and subtleties. The moral of the story is that forgiveness is not something that is always an option, or even wanted. In the book, Hester Prynne has sinned greatly, and must suffer for it the rest of her life. And while over the course of several decades the people around her begin to forgive and forget, she never forgives herself or stop suffering. The same applies to Reverend Dimmsdale, who suffered in silent guilt for all those years while Hester bore the sin in public. And while the town viewed Dimmsdale as a saint, he refused their attention believing it made him even more of a hypocrite. These main reasons among other, less important or significant ones, are why the moral of the story is Forgiveness isn’t always an option, or wanted.
ReplyDeleteThere are many different morals that could be interpreted as "the" moral of the story. It could be that the truth is always best. If Dimmesdale had simply told the truth at the beginning of the story, he may not have died and he definitely would not have suffered the way he did. Another possible moral is not to marry someone twenty years older than you. The moral may be about passing judgment on our peers as well. I think that the most important of these is not to judge others. If not for the judgment of the townsfolk none of all the tragedy that befell the characters would have happened.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion of the moral of The Scarlet Letter is to tell the truth. The plot of the story is filled with sin such as Reverend Dimmesdale not revealing that he was the father of Pearl. If everyone in the story had told the truth, than the entire plot of the story would have been changed. If Dimmesdale and Pearl came out in the open with their secrets, and Chillingworth revealed his identity, than the "A" wouldn't have had nearly as much effect. Hester and Dimmesdale's problems only would have lasted for a few years and they could have ve moved away to England together. Instead, they kept secrets which led to Chillingworth torturing Dimmesdale, Pearl growing up without a father figure, and Hester raising Pearl as an outcast. Telling the truth in the first place would have made everybody's lives more decent in the long run.
ReplyDeleteTom V: Interesting moral; one I hadn't really considered.
ReplyDeleteEthan, your observation about judgement is spot on...maybe that's the deadliest sin?
Kyle: As Hawthorne said, "Be true, be true, be true!"