A Comparison and Contrast In Both A's Worn By Hester and Dimmesdale
The two A's worn in the novel by both Hester and Dimmesdale are
dramatically different, yet they are born and made by the same identical sins.
These letters are also differentiated by the infinitely changing emotional state
and physical well being of the character, the towns views of morality and
natural order, and the affecting environment. The two sins of most importance
in the novel and that serve the greatest beneficiality in the appearance of the
A's are--of course-- adultery and hypocrisy.
The separation in the appearance of both of the A's begins with each
characters own personal interpretation of the extremity of their sins. Where
Hester's A is beautiful and artistically done ("fantastically embroidered and
illuminated upon her bosom; pg.37) her interpretation of the extremity of her
sins is one of self composure and nonchalantness. She views her sins solely as
a "violation in the natural order" of the environment and therefore cannot even
perceive her sin as being evil except through outside brainwashing. While
Dimmesdale's personal interpretation as to the extremity of his own sins is a
"violation of God's law," which is the law that he is totally dedicated to and
supported by. Dimmesdale's interpretation of his sin is much more severe than
Hester's, it is a breach and direct contradiction of his own self consciousness
and physical existence. Therefore the appearance of his A, even though it is
never directly described in the novel, must be raw, jagged, and brutally crooked
(...a ghastly rapture; pg.95). Maybe Dimmesdale's self torture is so horrifying
or inconceivable that it is either indes ...