Wicked Behavior In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

Wicked behavior is inside of all humans in one point of their lives. Some behaviors are more wicked than others, but the severity is determined by a matter of opinion. Three of the main characters of The Scarlet Letter are Hester Prynne, Reverend Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth. The three of them are said to have sinned; two in the same way and one in another. I believe that Roger Chillingworth has committed a greater sin than the sin of Hester Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale for numerous reasons. It also appears that Nathaniel Hawthorne expresses the same opinion as I do.

The main character of The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne, is forced to wear a scarlet letter ‘A’ on her chest for committing the act of adultery while married. Since the novel takes place in a Puritan society, adultery is strictly against their rules. As a woman, Prynne is even more frowned upon and punished. The Puritans’ opinion on Hester can be seen in Chapter 2 of The Scarlet Letter. “The scene was not without a mixture of awe, such as must always invest the spectacle of guilt and shame in a

fellow-creature, before society shall have grown corrupt enough to smile, instead of shuddering, at it.” (Hawthorne 42). This quote illustrates the lack of sympathy from the audience watching Hester on the scaffold and encapsulates their judgmental ignorance. I believe that since Hester was lied to by her husband, which entitled her to be a free woman. She was legally married, but physically did not partake in a marriage. Therefore, she did not truly commit an act of sin as the Puritans say she has.
Another central character in The Scarlet Letter is Reverend Dimmesdale.

Since he possesses the title of “reverend,” he is expected to act as some sort of a saint. Dimmesdale was responsible for the act of adultery done with Prynne. Even though he is a reverend, he is also a man. Although Dimmesdale was aware of Hester’s marriage but not who her husband was, he understood the predicament in which she was in; he recognized her solitude. In Chapter 17, Hester made the revelation to Dimmesdale that Roger Chillingworth was her husband. Dimmesdale did not respond in a positive manner as stated, “Never was there a blacker or a fiercer frown than Hester now encountered.” (Hawthorne 149). Dimmesdale is the most innocent from the trio since he was constantly repented his sin, but was also a single man. He lived with this guilt inside of him day-by-day and physically hurt himself, intending to lose the

guilt.
The third central character is Roger Chillingworth, the husband of Hester Prynne. I believe Chillingworth has sinned the most out of the three characters. First, he made the decision to send Hester to America while he stayed in England for some time. Prynne went a long period of time without knowing about her husband. Her loneliness and discomfort is due to lack of involvement from Chillingworth. When he finally arrived to America, he slowly began to plot a plan of revenge for Prynne and Dimmesdale. The two had to live with guilt, paranoia, and isolation. Dimmesdale had more of the guilt and paranoia since the townspeople are unaware of his act and also because he needed to constantly be aware of Chillingworth’s presence. In the thirteenth paragraph of Chapter 3, Chillingworth says, “Thus she will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter be engraved upon her tombstone. It irks me, nevertheless, that the partner of her iniquity should not, at least stand on the scaffold by her side. But he will be known!” (Hawthorne 47). This emphasizes his feelings apropos of both Hester and Dimmesdale after what they have done. Chillingworth is the most wicked from the three since he wants tragic revenge for something that he caused himself.
Hester Prynne, Reverend Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth are said to be wicked in the eyes of the Puritans. Prynne was abandoned by her husband for some time and Dimmesdale was unaware about her marriage. Chillingworth was responsible for this whole situation since he decided to leave Hester in America for a while without having communication with her. It appears that Chillingworth is the biggest sinner of the three since he will not be satisfied until he fulfills his wish of revenge of the two. Physical characteristics of the devil were said to have been seen in Chillingworth, which illustrates the darkness he had inside of him. You are responsible and culpable for your own decisions, not the others involved in your dilemma.