"'There might be good for thee, and thee alone, since thou hast been deeply wronged, and hast it at thy will to pardon. Wilt thou give up that only privelege? Wilt thou reject that priceless benefit?'" Pg. 133
The first half of this novel caused me to think that admonishment and vengeance would be the norm throughout the whole book. I read about Hester's public humiliation, the physician trying through shady means get Dimmesdale to reveal his wrongs, and Dimmesdale contending with physical illness and mental struggle. However, through the second half of this book, I have come to know that the spirit of forgivness is just as equally represented, which I find uplifting, since no community is devoid of this quality. Even in the strict moral days of pre-colonial Puritan settlement, people found it in their hearts to absolve the well-repented sins of others. This quote displays some of that forgiveness, and by Hester nonetheless. She explains to Chillingworth that she understands his desire to act treacherously towards Dimmesdale because he was wronged by the man nearly eight years earlier when they had their affair. So too do the people of the town show forgivness and compassion. On page 188, the narrator says how the Puritans "were none the less inclined to pronounce the child a demon offspring..." I think the people realize that Hester has paid her dues by wearing around her letter without protest for many years and has largely stayed clear of the public eye.
It's ironic that Hester could be so forgiving of Chilling worth, but the town had such difficulties forgiving Hester, when Hester is supposed to be evil.
ReplyDeleteI think that the readers had more of a sense of sympathy towards Hester because of her hardships with everyone else not forgiving her and continually judging her. Sin and forgiveness come hand in hand (in my opinion) and I think that it why forgiveness serves as a theme in the second half of the book
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