Venial sin Essays

  • The Scaffold Scenes in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    1100 Words  | 3 Pages

    . for his sin. Both in the novel and in everyday use, the scaffold has a certain connotation to it. For instance, a person told that they were going to be scaffolded would most likely be fearful. However, as used scaffolding could simply mean that they were going to be propped up. Likewise, in The Scarlet Letter all Puritans fear chastisement on the scaffold. In the novel, the scaffold is never used for public speaking or a theatrical performance, but only for the confession of sin. Most Puritans

  • Confession

    707 Words  | 2 Pages

    images of famous Hollywood confessions and dramatizations, but the real root of the phrase has a much more obscure past. Not only found in modern Catholicism, the confession of sin, along with the confession of faith, can be seen in religious practices throughout the world. The simplest definition Webster gave the confession of sin is “a written or oral statement acknowledging guilt, made by one who has been accused or charged with an offense” (Bookshelf). However, Webster also recognizes the less thought

  • Essay On The Scarlet Letter Dimmesdale's Guilt

    950 Words  | 2 Pages

    Letter. Lacking the courage to brings shame upon himself for his sin, Dimmesdale hides its. This, therefore, makes him a liar whose words are now tainted with deception, molding a far greater sin. This great sin destroys his ability to be a good father and has formed him to be a coward. Dimmesdale believes that if he conceals his sin that he can continue doing Gods work as a penance for his sins. It is Dimmesdale’s “concealed sins” of pride and false witness that exceeds the others because of the

  • Dimmesdale's Behavior In The Scarlet Letter

    599 Words  | 2 Pages

    forest is quite different. For the first time in the novel, Dimmesdale is able to express how he truly feels about his sin with another human being. He has a meaningful encounter with Hester as he openly elaborates on his inner guilt and shame. This is also the first time in the novel in which he feels some form of relief by being able to look into the eyes of someone who knows his sin. “Had I one friend, —or were it my worst enemy! —to whom, when sickened with the praises of all other men, I could daily

  • Arthur Dimmesdale Mental Illness

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    chemistry/hormones, and stress, as stated in the National Institution of Mental Health article, “Men and Depression” (NIMH n/a). In this case, stress was the cause to Dimmesdale’s illness, as he has been conflicted with his hypocrisy and the courage to reveal his sin. This stressful situation bothers Dimmesdale to the point of condemning himself in his sermons, which his listeners deny in disbelief, and continue to admire him. Thus leading to more stress and the further deterioration of his mental health, Dimmesdale

  • Reverend Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter

    834 Words  | 2 Pages

    choice not to was best for his pastoral duties and, ultimately achieved the same result of repentance. In hiding his terrible truth, Dimmesdale sins even more, yet becomes a more effective reverend. To begin with, the Bible encourages confession, which he is certainly knows, so he is a hypocrite. In addition, while

  • First Confession - A Humorous Short Story

    1522 Words  | 4 Pages

    Confession is the admission of one’s sins. In the Christian religion, it is done within a confessional booth before a priest, who will then give the confessor a penance in accordance with his or her crimes. Confession of one’s mortal sins is required in order regain God’s grace, and the priest is believed to have been given the authority to grant forgiveness and absolution. Most of the time, confession is a solemn affair. However, some authors have written stories that focus on the subject of confession

  • Arthur Dimmesdale In Scarlet Letter

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    scaffold and announcing his sin to the people, causing him to walk very poorly. Pearl always notices that he keeps his hand over his heart and wonders why, and it is because of his sin and suffering. "And will he always keep his hand over his heart?" (167). It represents his scarlet letter that he forces himself to wear, whether intentionally or subconscious. Dimmesdale's suffering enables him to deliver some of his most powerful sermons, which all focus on the topic of sin. Lastly, this was a minister

  • Analysis Of The Great Stone Face

    811 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it.”(I John 5: 16) Now, you know, that verse used to bother me when I thought John was writing about a single sin that one could commit and for which there was no forgiveness; that a person who committed that specific sin, whatever it was, could never have forgiveness; that they were doomed forever. However, John’s message suggests nothing

  • Frank O'Connor's the First Confession

    652 Words  | 2 Pages

    weren't focusing on their own wrong actions. Sometimes people's ignorance can bring them into a whole different reality. Through certain characters and different incidents, O'Connor stresses his theme that people's ignorance can blind them from their own sins. The main character's sister in the story, Nora, was blinded by her own ignorance. She was very dishonest, but hid it all behind an innocent look and nice smile. Every Friday her grandmother would get pension pay. She would suck up every penny she

  • Hiding and Confessing Sin in The Scarlet Letter

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hiding Sin and Confessing Sin The way Hester and Dimmesdale approached their sins has a direct correlation with how they lived the rest of their lives. Hester confessed her sin because she had no choice she already had incriminating evidence in the form of a child and had to confess or be expelled from the community. In this sense, Hester had no choice but to confess or leave the community and she chose to confess. Although, we may not know why she made this choice, but we know she made it and

  • Doctor Faustus and the Role that Sin plays in God's Divine Plan

    1260 Words  | 3 Pages

    Doctor Faustus and the Role that Sin plays in God's Divine Plan. The nature of sin is brought up many times in the play Doctor Faustus. It seems that Faustus (like all of us) is damned. The question posed is; can we as humans do anything to save ourselves from eternal damnation, or are we doomed from birth. The play deals with Faustus struggle to understand sin and its effect on the human soul. There is a interesting scene where the seven deadly sins appear before Faustus. To understand the importance

  • Purgatory, Heaven, Hell

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    Humans have always been fascinated with the questions about what happens after death. One belief is that the body merely ceases to live and consciousness stops, while another belief is to simply not give the question any thought. A third possibility; however, is a belief that the essence of the person moves on to another reality or existence with a higher being. According to the Catholic teachings, there are three possibilities for humans in the afterlife. This essay will briefly introduce these

  • An Analysis Of Hester Prynne

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nathaniel Hawthorne’s protagonist Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter is the subject of many interpretations and perceptions. In his satirical essay, D.H. Lawrence clearly explains his opinions about sin and pure appearances in society, and focuses on those of Hester Prynne. Lawrence uses sarcastic tone, concise syntax, and Biblical allusions to express his disdainful opinions of Hester Prynne. Lawrence uses a sarcastic tone throughout his critique to mock Hester Prynne and the people who believe

  • The Characterization Of Hester Prynne By D. H. Lawrence

    732 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hawthorne seeks to portray Prynne, as well as those who cannot see Hester Prynne as a contradictory symbol to pure society. In this case specifically, Lawrence targets the seduced reader who fails to detect Hester’s mortal sin, mainly because it helps him lead into the gravity of her sin itself. Lawrence also warns those of pure society to not “let [Hester] start tickling [them]” (Lawrence). Lawrence issues a direct statement to the reader that Hester Prynne’s characterization is used for the mere purpose

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Hester Prynne

    790 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lawrence focuses on and condemns Hester’s sin itself rather than its consequences. Instead of supporting Hawthorne's depiction of Hester as an innocent character, Lawrence sheds light on what he believes is her true character, a deceiver.  He argues that Hester Prynne has a false appearance of purity through his use of critical diction, sarcastic tone, and biblical allusions.     Lawrence writes with derogatory diction to display the reality of Hester’s sin.  Despite Hawthorne's original characterization

  • Divine Comedy - The Medieval Church and Dante's Inferno

    1389 Words  | 3 Pages

    churches view on sin, redemption, heaven and hell was very complex, but actually the churches views were straight and to the point. I will discuss with you what sin, redemption, heaven and hell were to the medieval churches and I will also share some examples in the story that will help you better understand The Inferno and the medieval churches views. Let's begin with sin. A sin was said to be a deliberate and purposeful violation of the will of God. "The medieval churches thought that sin was also a

  • Sacrament Of Penance Essay

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    shared with me, please write back or call me. Understanding the sacrament of penance is Wueri in his pastoral letter to the faithful in his diocese, he asserts, “We are not left to our own devices.” For the simple reason that the effect of Adam’s sin into the world, such as death, disharmony, confusion, disruption and struggle; Jesu through the sacraments restores harmony and gives us newness of life in grace (3). Just as we consult the doctor in illness, eat food when hungry, go to school to acquire

  • Comparative Introduction to Monotheistic Religions

    2601 Words  | 6 Pages

    Imagining a community that loses entire moral standards and orders: no controls, no rules, and no laws, so people may do everything they desire to do freely. However, due to humans' instinct of the endless desire which leads to avarice, sometimes they neglect the responsibility and righteousness then do something heinous in order to reach their goals. If the group effect was considered in this point, people without any moral restrictions on individual in that community so they can be deteriorated

  • Forgiveness

    2944 Words  | 6 Pages

    Forgiveness Christ Jesus some two thousand years ago came into this world to bring redemption for our sins. He did this through his death and resurrection, or what we refer to as the pascal mystery. We still encounter the saving presence of the Lord in the sacraments and in the Word. In each and every sacrament we come face to face with "the grace of God our Savior" (Titus 2:11). It is this redemption of sins aspect of the sacraments that I will be examine. In the past couple of century we have focused