Guilts Destruction essays

Guilt's Destruction essays The Scarlet Letter displays that guilt is venomous and destructive, even more so than physical injuries. Nathaniel Hawthorne wanted to show the result of hiding ones sins and the destructiveness of secrecy and deception. In the story, Dimmesdale is consumed by his feelings of guilt, and in the end they destroy him. Guilt destroys the mind and body slowly and painfully, until all that is left is an empty shell filled with sickness and despair. The poison of guilt slowly eats away at a persons soul. By the time it is noticed, it is often too late to stop its flow. Guilt has already started its work and nothing can be done to stop its advance. The guilt has begun to edge itself into the persons mind and, bit by bit, take pieces of their being. The person may struggle against it or may completely give in, but in the end, guilt prevails. Some are driven to confess, as was Dimmesdale. The guilt is banished, but by that time, the damage has been done. Guilt has done its work and will find another victim. Hesters decision to conceal the truth about Dimmesdale caused him greater pain then he ever would have felt at the hands of the Puritans. He would have served his punishment and been free from any lingering feelings of guilt. But because she chose to keep their secret and because Dimmesdale would not confess, he was tortured in mind and body. He bore the pain and agony so that he could continue Gods work. However, moments before the end of his torturous life, he confessed, I stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood ;( Hawthorne 209). And for those few moments between life and death he was free. Dimmesdale chose to keep his sin a secret and to deceive his congregation. The Puritans believed their beloved pastor to be a pure and...