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

by Ettarre. By using examples from “The Scarlet Letter”, “Frankenstein”, and “Idylls of the King” I will make the case that the initial sin of a person creates situations which cause other people to sin and that the person who commits the original sin is also responsible for those sins committed by others.
“The Scarlet Letter”, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850, is the story of Hester Prynne.

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

community.
When Hester’s husband quietly arrives in the town assuming the career of a doctor and a new name, he reveals his quest for revenge solely to her. “Yet fear not for him! Think not that I shall interfere with Heaven’s own method of retribution, or, to my own loss, betray him to the gripe of human law. Neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught against his life; no, nor against his fame, if as I judge, he be a man of fair repute. Let him live! Let him hide himself in outward honour, if he may! Not the less he shall be mine!” (Hawthorne 70). After discovering the letter A on Dimmesdale’s chest, Chillingworth began to mentally torture Dimmesdale. “He became, thenceforth, not a spectator only, but a chief actor in the poor minister’s interior world. He could play upon him as he chose. Would he arouse him with a throb of agony?… up rose a grisly phantom—up rose a thousand phantoms—in many shapes, of death, or more awful shame, all flocking round about the clergyman, and pointing with their fingers at his breast!” (Hawthorne 130). If Hester or Dimmesdale had confessed their original sin, Chillingworth would not have held power over Dimmesdale, nor had the pleasure of torturing him.
“Frankenstein”, written by Mary Shelley in 1823, is a novel that recounts the story of a young scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who creates a human-like monster.

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

entirely.
After being neglected by its creator, Frankenstein’s monster murders Victor’s brother. After becoming the prime suspect in the investigation, Justine who is arrested. Victor decides not to admit to creating the monster for fear of people thinking of him insane. Justine falsely admits to the murder, is found guilty, and is executed leaving two dead. Victor speaks with his creation and it asks that he make a companion for him. "I expected this reception," said the daemon. "All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us… Do your duty towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the rest of mankind." (Shelley 101). In this dialogue, the monster indirectly draws a comparison between Victor and God, since God is the creator and Victor created him. He asks that he make him a companion similar to how God created Eve for Adam. At first Victor cooperates with his creations wishes, but during the process of making it, he destroys it. The monster proceeded to murder Victor’s best friend in anger and his wife leaving him alone, similarly to how the monster felt. In the process of trying to become famous, Victor created an abomination and did not fathom the consequences of his actions. After denying his creation help in learning how to be a functioning member of society, the monster murders several of Victors closest friends and family. The monster was not aware that his actions were wrong, only that they would hurt Victor. Ultimately, Victor is the one responsible and his actions are morally wrong in this scenario.
“Idylls of the King”, written by Alfred Lord Tennyson in 1859, is a collection of twelve poems detailing the legend of King Arthur, his wife Guinevere, his knights, and the rise and fall of his kingdom. Included in Tennyson’s work is “Pelleas and Ettarre” a story of how a young, naïve knight is devoted to Ettarre, and how she rejects him. After rejection, Pelleas sees Guinevere’s unfaithfulness to King Arthur her husband. “He woke, and being ware of some one nigh, Sent hands upon him, as to tear him, crying, 'False! and I held thee pure as Guinevere.'” (Tennyson 245). After seeing the corruption and deceit, Pelleas leaves and becomes The Red Knight of the North. He sets up his own roundtable parodying King Arthur. Pelleas’s table is comprised of adulterers and prostitutes. Ettarre’s rejection of Pelleas combined with the sight of corruption led Pelleas to sin. Ettarre rejected him, which is not a sin, but Guinevere’s adultery was the proverbial final nail in the coffin. While Guinevere was not aware that her actions would have such dire consequences, she and Ettarre both played a major role in Pelleas’s downfall.
In conclusion, the agents that are ultimately responsible for the consequences of actions that lead to sin are the ones who are morally wrong. Through their actions, Hester, Dimmesdale, Dr. Frankenstein, Guinevere, and Ettarre caused others to sin. The Red Knight, Frankenstein’s monster, and Dimmesdale’s suffering all could have been avoided if the ones who were ultimately responsible had taken different action.

Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, et al. The Scarlet Letter. Barnes & Noble Books, 2003.
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Maurice Hindle. Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus. Penguin Books, 2007.
Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson, and J. M. Gray. Idylls of the King. Penguin, 1983.