In our imperfect world, it seems as though sin is around every corner. This holds true no matter what time period one examines, as Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates in his book The Scarlet Letter. The novel's main character, Hester Prynne, commits the cardinal sin of adultery and is forced to bear the shame of the scarlet letter. Her sin affects all those around her, but most notably, Reverend Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth, and, of course, Prynne herself.
Throughout the novel, Hester is ostracized for her sin. One of the more notable examples is Hester's residence in a cottage on the outskirts of the colony. (Hawthorne 81) This demonstrates that Hester believes her sin to be quite severe because she regards herself as unfit to live among the "righteous" members of the settlement. In the end, Hester remains a hermit for most of her natural life, unable to escape the self-torment of her sin.
The Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is physically affected by the sin which Hester and he committed. This can be seen in the curious, seemingly psycho-somatic heart condition that ails him. (Hawthorne 120) The pastor turns his sorrow inward, due to his inability to ever confess his sin. As a result, the young minister's life is cut short when he falls dead on the scaffold at the novel's climax.
Roger Chillingworth is most noticeably affected. For example, the man's personality is changed from that of a kindly old man, to that of a malicious vengeance seeker. (Hawthorne 172) The old man is willing to risk eternal damnation because he feels so adamantly that Dimmesdale be punished. Chillingworth takes it upon himself to make sure that the reverend is reminded of his sin with every step.
It is interesting to note that all three characters are held captive by forces from their own minds. Though each one was affected by Hester's sin, they were punished by nothing but their own morality, or lack thereof.