The big finale! :P

A book based on a moral. “The Scarlett Letter” was more then just a plain book, it was a story that portrayed human beings at their worst and how they interact with each other   as a result of their beliefs and opinions (in this case the lack of them). In the end, we find Reverend Dimmesdale buried, with his soul cleansed of his own doubt as well as  his hidden sin he reveals the “truth” to the town people after he delivers a sermon to the church. Reverend Dimmesdale was a character that concealed himself from the people and chose not to reveal his true colors only because of  other’s opinions. Hester was left alone after Arthur Dimmesdale’s death with the whole town knowing about her affair with Dimmesdale and Hester. Pearl is grown up but, is not left bare handed thanks to Chillingworth providing a fair amount of loot for her wellbeing. Hawthorne uses the situation where a high social figure is placed in a problem where sin is involved and drives the character to the point where he questions his own fate to only prove his point that no matter what a person does everyone no matter what is still able to sin. Hawthorne saw a vivid image that to this day has not yet been fulfilled about accepting who people are and that they are only capable to learn through mistakes.

    Though at the end when Dimmesdale delivered his sermon to the church it was a coincidence that his life energy had ran out and so then fell to his knees and then only after he searched for happiness and freedom did he gain the ultimate exit, death. I feel that it’s ironic in it’s own sense yet I feel that Dimmesdale got off easier then how he should have. Only because Dimmesdale was trying to still run away from the problem rather then face it head on like he should have in the beginning. Though Dimmesdale found a way to gain freedom and relieve himself from the burden of carrying the knowledge of sin the real victim and character that should have gained such an opportunity should had been Hester. At the end Hester grew old and die of such a cause but not only did she believe in the world that we have today where woman and man share mutual ground but she shared her experiences with other people who were also lost in a place where only Hester would be able to understand them.


Question: How do you think that the position of the gravestones spoke for themselves not only as symbols but deeper meaning?