P5+JErnsberger

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The cycle of Transgression, Shame, Repentance and Acceptance in Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, was portrayed through the main character, Hester Prynne. They were implemented to explore New England’s religious identity but were not used to discover the nation’s national identity.

First, transgression was used when Hester Prynne committed the adultery with Dimmesdale, who was the town minister. When the community learned of Hester Prynne’s adultery, they considered her action as a transgression or a sin. The community had strict religious against Hester’s actions. Therefore, they would classify her action as a religious transgression entitling her as a sinner. Governor Belingham even stated, “the responsibility of this woman’s soul lies greatly with you,” which specified how he felt that Hester’s actions was a sin that could damn her soul for an eternity. Though, there was no evidence in the book that implied if all of the states in the United States felt that Hester’s action was a religious transgression.

Same was implements after Hester’s religious transgression was disclosed. Hester had to pay the consequences by being shamed for her sin. Therefore, she was forced to bear the scarlet letter to remind everyone of what could happen for committing an adultery. People would be warned of the consequences for committing such religious transgression. The Scarlet Letter did not indicate whether if the states would react to Hester’s sin in such a manner.

Hester would eventually portray repentance after bearing the Scarlet Letter for some time. She became an emotional consultant for the people. The book ever stated, “… people brought all of their sorrows and perplexities and besought her counsel …” (page 234 p. 3). She even helped the poor by providing articles of clothing and food for them. As she began to perform good services for the people, her good began to counterbalance her evil in the people’s eyes. They saw her in a good light allowing her to atone religiously. Though again, there was no evidence pointing to how other states would allow atonement and how they would require atonement.

The cycle ends at acceptance. People began to religiously accept her in a variety of ways. They first classified her as a sinner and would accept her only as that. They would not accept her as a regular person. The community eventually accepted Hester more as a person later on, but they would still acknowledge her scarlet letter. They would forget the sin, but the letter would never allow Hester to be a regular person. Finally, no evidence was shown similar her case as to how other states would accept their labeled people.

The novel, The Scarlet Letter, cannot nationally identify the nation. It can classify the New England colonies because of the religion, though it cannot classify the nation because of the various religious groups. Massachusetts is not a Puritan group. You cannot compare. Therefore, the community and New England are one of a kind. They are strict religious group.