Paul Faalavelave 2B October 29, 2013 FINAL ASSESSMENT: Section 2 Based on your understanding of the novel, explain your

choice of character who committed the greater sin. Chillingworth is usually described as an upright, respectful, apprehensive citizen. They would have been correct, but no one knew just how much he was concerned about. With the loss of Hester, he became filled with resentment and jealousy. Eventually he let his emotions surpass him. At the close of The Scarlet Letter, the maliciousness of Roger Chillingworths heart made him the greatest sinner. Throughout the book, every character besides Chillingworth learned to forgive and rid their heart of guilt. When the minister showed his concern for the doctor before his death he said, May God forgive thee. Thou hast deeply sinned, (pg. 251) he showed how he overcame sin. Dimmesdale used a few of his last words to forgive the doctor. Even when Chillingworth tortured and troubled him until his death, the reverend had great honor to have God show mercy on Roger. Furthermore, Dimmesdale had the ability to forgive Hester. I do forgive you Hester (pg. 191) displays his understanding. Due to his high location of audacity and authority in the church and society, Dimmesdale set great standards for himself, and it reflected in the way he dealt with private relations. Also, if Chillingworth had been more considerate towards Hester and her situation, he wouldve had overcame sin. Lastly, both Hester and her lover admitted their sins on the scaffold and sought after forgiveness for their indiscretions while Chillingworth could never admit he had sinned.

Chillingworths actions were motivated by animosity and a lust for revenge that conquered him in the end. Therefore a horrible change must have taken place in the doctor since human nature loves more readily than it hates (pg. 156). The acts of Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth were all driven by a deep passion for one thing or another. However, the difference in their actions was that the adulteress and the minister acted out of love for each other while her husband acted out of anger and distrust. Also, the physician experienced such a change that there came a glare of red light out of his eyes; as if the old mans soul were on fire, and kept smoldering duskily within his breast (pg. 166). Eventually Chillingworths heart became so twisted and distorted that there were quite obvious differences in his personality. In this case, guilt is not determined by actions, but by the state of the heart or mind committing them. Roger Chillingworth controlled greater wickedness than Hester or Dimmesdale. With all this in mind, the torturers grief was greater than the other two characters, so if he had just recognized everything and moved along, everyone would have just been spared all the trouble. Almost every character shaped the situations they were experienced. Some chose to benefit from their situations. Hesters trials awarded her comprehension, empathy, and made her a respectable mother. Dimmesdale never stopped trying to please and honor his devotion to God throughout the entire ordeal. Sin occurs and being able to defeat it results in redemption. Chillingworth was not able to do this so in the end he took his sins to grave with him.

Choose one of your level 2 questions from chapters 17-24 of The Scarlet Letter and write a response to that question. Why did Hester tell Dimmesdale the secret of Chillingworths true identity?

A: As Hesters lawful husband, Chillingworth was ashamed of Hesters sin. He came to the town that Hester has been viewed as corrupt. She had an affair and as a result she gave birth to a baby girl, Pearl. The man Hester slept with was a man named Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale was the reverend of the towns puritan church. He was seen as an instrument in Gods hands. Hester kept both men as a secret; Chillingworth as Hesters husband and Dimmesdale as her lover. In chapter 17 Hester tells Dimmesdale the truth about Roger Chillingworth. She realizes how wrong it was to not tell her lover about Chillingworth earlier. Hesters reason for telling Dimmesdale about Roger was because she didnt want him in danger anymore. She wants to let him know that Chillingworth might actually want some sort of revenge because he found out that Pearls father is the reverend. Hester also told her lover about her husband because of their love for one another. The forest acted as a place of truth for Hester a few times before and did it again. She was able to tell the truth and not have any more secrets from Dimmesdale. Hester wanted to change the meaning of the scarlet letter. She actually didnt really want to be defined by a letter so she told the truth. Secrets gave her the scarlet letter so she figured that letting go of all secrets would free her from it. Hester told the reverend Chillingworths secret out of love, truth, and the desire for his safety.