The Scarlet Letter and the Crucible Essay

If there was no ritual for the washing away of sins, would it matter if a person publicly confessed their sins or dealt with them privately? It would: “Lying is done with words and also with silence” (Adrienne Rich). When you are honest you have nothing to hide and most importantly nothing to fear. Four people in The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter engaged in the same sin, adultery. Each chose a different path, hoping that one day they would be forgiven, freed from their guilt, and hopefully find a place in heaven. Publicly bearing sins is the first step toward forgiving yourself, and once you forgive yourself, God can too.

The most important message from The Scarlet Letter was to be honest: “Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred” (Hawthorne 231). Similarly, the message from The Crucible was that after we confess, we will be rewarded, like John Proctor, “He have his goodness now” (Miller 145). Therefore, it would be more successful for a sinner to publicly bear their sins than deal with them privately. The journey four characters go through proves that honesty is the best policy; for those who confessed were saved in the end.

Although Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter had no option, she was the first of the four to publically bear her sins. She did this by wearing the scarlet letter. The intent of the scarlet letter was to cause Hester an unbearable amount of pain; it did cause her pain, but it also caused her relief. It was a blessing in disguise. She could have covered up the letter, but she wanted it to stand out, “On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold-thread” (Hawthorne 50). Hester accepted her punishment gracefully. After years, she was given the chance to leave, but instead she chose to stay, “She had returned, therefore, and resumed,- of her own free will, for not the sternest magistrate of that iron period would have imposed it,- resumed the symbol of which we have related so dark a tale” (234). If Hester ran away she would be showing the townspeople that publically bearing sins was something to be ashamed of; that would be incorrect, escaping does not solve anything. Hester did not want to leave because her sin was part of who she was, “Here had been her sin; here, her sorrow; and here was yet to be her penitence” (234). By staying in Boston, Hester was reminded of her sin. She would always be repenting for it.

When everyone knows your worst, you can only get better. Hester transmuted the meaning of the letter “A” from adulterous to able. She comforted all sinners and continued her charitable work. Hester imagined herself as a prophetess whose message was that, “at some brighter period, when the world should have grown veiled, in Heaven’s own time, a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer ground of mutual happiness” (235). She was a symbol of hope for all other sinners.

Unlike Hester, Reverend Dimmesdale chose to hide his sin, because, by publically admitting his sins, he would be going against everything he stood for. However, it is evident that by keeping everything inside, Dimmesdale was tortured physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Dimmesdale’s soul was eaten away with guilt. Dimmesdale constantly thought about his sins. He starved himself and physically tortured himself. He wanted the people to know so badly, he tried to incorporate a confession into almost every sermon. His attempts failed miserably and only caused the people to appreciate him more. Unlike Hester, who found joy in her daughter and sewing, Dimmesdale found no joy at all. Dimmesdale made it clear to Hester that his suffering was worse than hers, “Were I an atheist, - a man devoid of conscience,- a wretch with coarse and brutal instincts,- I might have found peace, long ere now… Hester, I am most miserable!” (172). Chillingworth’s medicine saved Dimmesdale’s life, but his soul was still dying. The medicine Dimmesdale needed to save his soul was confession.

At the hour of his death, Dimmesdale was grateful for all the torture he went through. It would save him in the end because the pain he went through on earth would be enough to get him into heaven: “By bringing me hither, to die this death of triumphant ignominy before the people! Had either of these agonies been wanting, I had been lost forever! Praised be His name! His will be done!” (229). Everything Dimmesdale kept inside: his torment, his guilt, and his agony, led up to his death. He died hoping his message would reach everyone. If he had not publically borne his sin, he would have failed to get a final message across, “After exhausting life in his efforts for mankind’s spiritual good, he had made the manner of his death a parable, in order to impress on his admirers the mighty and mournful lesson, that, in the view of Infinite Purity, we are sinners all alike” (231). We are all sinners and can all be forgiven if we ask.

John Proctor from The Crucible chose to privately deal with his sins. His wife, Elizabeth, was the only one who knew. Proctor’s failure to confess resulted in hundreds of people being unfairly persecuted. If Proctor chose to publicly bear his sins from the beginning, he would have saved innocent lives. Speaking the truth is difficult, but what is often the most difficult is most successful. Once your sin is out, you have nothing to fear. When Proctor realized speaking the truth would defeat his enemy’s purpose, he confessed in front of a large crowd. Publicly confessing also allowed Proctor to realize an important lesson. He learned that God is the final and ultimate judge: “I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!” (Miller 142). Proctor can freely accept his death because he knows God forgives him.

Unlike Hester who escaped the town and returned shortly after, Abigail Williams, from The Crucible, escaped and never returned. Out of the four sinners, she was the only one to never declare her sins publicly. Along with that, she was also the only one who was never tortured or tormented by internal guilt. This would imply that dealing with sins privately is the best option and most successful. However, Abigail was far from being successful. She turned to the most degrading position in society, a lascivious prostitute. This proved that not only was Abigail loathed by others, but her dignity and self-respect were lost as well.

We are also reassured in The Scarlet Letter that it does not matter where you are; your sin will follow you everywhere. Dimmesdale and Hester believed Europe was the answer to their prayers. However, as Hester and Dimmesdale learned, Chillingworth planned to come along. There would be no happy ending until Dimmesdale repented, as long as his sin was around Chillingworth was around, and with Chillingworth came torture.

Abigail should have learned her lesson through the people she persecuted. They failed to confess to being witches, and as a result, “they [hung] for silence” (143). Nothing good ever came out of being silent. Although, Abigail escaped Salem, she could not escape God’s wrath. Her uncle Parris warned her of this, “Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time” (10). Instead of being tortured on earth for a few years, Abigail would be tortured in hell for all eternity.

In the Puritanical societies of Boston and Salem, religion was the foundation of society. If their faith was the center of their life, they would have been able to understand and interpret The Bible. In the Gospel of Luke it clearly states, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur… If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke16: 1-3). Dimmesdale clearly understood this when leaving his message for Hester and the townspeople. We are all sinners, but if we repent we will be forgiven. How we respond to the sin will either separate or bring us closer to God.

Given that The Bible was the most important part of their lives, it is appropriate to compare Dimmesdale and Abigail to two essential people in Jesus’ ministry. First, we can relate Dimmesdale to Peter. Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crows. Peter ensured Jesus he would never do such a thing; however, as Peter was sitting outside the courtyard he was asked if he was a follower of Jesus. Three times, he faced this question. Every single time, Peter disowned Jesus. Likewise, Dimmesdale disowned Hester and Pearl. After, Peter realized his sin, he wept bitterly. Dimmesdale also wept bitterly at his confession on the scaffold. Because Peter repented, Jesus forgave him. Not only did he forgive him, but he chose him to be the leader of the early church. Peter was to be an example of how to live and to strengthen and encourage other followers. Similarly, the people looked at Dimmesdale as an example. They were inspired by his sermons and teachings, and Dimmesdale’s final message was that God is the final judge. This message was to be remembered and cherished forever.

Another important character from this story was Judas, the traitor. Abigail and Judas share several of the same characteristics. Judas, “went, and discoursed with the chief priests and the magistrates, how he might betray [Jesus] to them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised. And he sought opportunity to betray him in the absence of the multitude” (Luke 22: 3-6). Judas was looking out only for himself. He failed to speak the truth. Abigail also failed to speak the truth: “I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people – and this is my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, questioned” (108). Abigail, like Judas, was only looking out for herself. After the town knew her sin, she fled as soon as she could. Both Peter and Judas committed a similar sin. Abigail and Dimmesdale also committed a similar sin. How they each handled the sin contrasted greatly. To the Christians, Judas is looked upon as the worst sinner of all because he failed to repent. However, Peter became a saint and is the most respected of Jesus’ disciples. Abigail’s failure to admit her sins makes her most like Judas, therefore, making her the most detestable sinner.

Knowing God forgives all sinners, no matter how bad the sin, there is no reason not to publically confess. Hester transformed the meaning of the worst symbol in Boston to one of the best. She was rewarded at her final resting place in King’s Chapel, where the High Priests were buried. This proves that the initial sin is not important; what is important is how we deal with the sin. Dimmesdale and Proctor both taught one of the most important lessons. God is the final and ultimate judge. It does not matter what others think of us, only God. Those who are honest will prevail; whereas, those who conceal their sins, like Abigail, will be rewarded only in hell. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16).