SIN AND REDEMPTION IN NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE’S THE SCARLET LETTER

Abstract

This article explores the themes of sin and redemption in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, focusing on how moral struggle leads to personal transformation. Through the contrasting experiences of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, Hawthorne examines the destructive power of guilt and the potential for renewal through suffering and confession. Hester’s public shame becomes a path to inner strength and compassion, while Dimmesdale’s hidden sin results in self-torment and eventual spiritual liberation. The study argues that Hawthorne views redemption not as divine absolution but as a deeply human process rooted in self-awareness, truth, and moral growth. His portrayal of sin reflects both the limitations of Puritan ideology and the enduring resilience of the human soul.