Differences And Similarities Between Frankenstein And Hester Prynne

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sin as “an offense against religious or moral law”. People have many motivations to sin: greed, self-gain, and pleasure being prominent examples. In “The Scarlet Letter”, Hester Prynne is convinced that her husband is not coming to meet her at their new home in the colonies because she believes that he may have died. She then has an affair setting in motion the events of the story. In “Frankenstein”, Victor Frankenstein does not help his creation assimilate into society; this results in the deaths of several of Victor’s loved ones at the hand of his creation. In “Idylls of the King”, Pelleas becomes the Red Knight of the North after seeing the unfaithfulness of Guinevere to King Arthur and being rejected

Hester gives birth to a daughter after an adulterous affair with the local pastor, Dimmesdale, and bears the shame for life. Hester struggles to create a new life for her and her daughter while still being an outcast in the community. When Hester is asked repeatedly who the father of the child is, she does not answer, prolonging the secret. “I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer! Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for, believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so than to hide a guilty heart through life. What can thy silence do for him, except it tempt him—yea, compel him, as it were—to add hypocrisy to sin?” (Hawthorne 62). Dimmesdale oddly enough encourages Hester to reveal the identity of her fellow sinner, fully knowing that he was that man. At this point, Hester continues to withhold the identity, even at Dimmesdale’s request. The perpetuation of the lie enabled Dimmesdale’s hypocrisy and deception to his

Victor idolizes science and in doing so neglects everything, including relationships with his family and basic necessities such as sleep. “From this day… particularly chemistry… became nearly my sole occupation. I read with ardour those works, so full of genius and discrimination, which modern inquirers have written on these subjects… soon [I] became so ardent and eager that the stars often disappeared in the light of morning whilst I was yet engaged in my laboratory” (Shelley 51). Frankenstein becomes so enamored with science that it becomes his obsession. When he finally creates his monster he considers himself a genius, advancing far beyond the masters of science. Yet, he is so excited and disgusted with his creation that he runs away from his apartment where he brought the monster to life. “The porter opened the gates of the court, which had that night been my asylum, and I issued into the streets, pacing them with quick steps, as if I sought to avoid the wretch whom I feared every turning of the street would present to my view. I did not dare return to the apartment which I inhabited, but felt impelled to hurry on…” (Shelley 60). Instead of acting responsibly toward his creation and teaching this creature how to assimilate into society, Victor instead decided to abandon it