scarlet letter

Because of Hester's adultery she is sentenced to wear a scarlet "A" on her chest which "is made not just with dye but is red hot with internal fire"(Hawthorne 88) for the remainder of her life. This internal fire represents the romantic sense of Hester as an individual and the heroin. . Hester's "A" further represents her romantic passion when anybody touches or stares at it causing it to burn into her skin. The "A" she wears represents the adultery she commits, which refers to her marital infidelity. When two partners of whom at least one is married to another party or when both are not married at all, have sexual relations, even transient ones, they commit adultery. The Sixth Commandment and the New Testament as well as the Prophets forbid adultery absolutely as detailed in Matthew 5:32, Mark 10:11 and Jeremiah 5:7 stating that adultery is an image of sin and idolatry. While Hester's sin of adultery was grave it was not the worst sin of the main characters. .
             Hester's sin was venial which is sin that weakens charity. Venial sin impedes the soul's progress in the exercise of good virtues. However, Hester's venial sin does not set her in direct opposition to the will and friendship with God. With God's grace his covenant is repairable. Since Gods covenant is repairable with humans Hester's repentance will restore her to grace and forgive her sins.
             Hester's sin of committing adultery with Dimmesdale is not the greatest for a number of reasons. One reason that Hester's sin is not the greatest is because she suffers the consequences of her sin by herself as a way of repentance. Hester has to suffer the consequences alone because her fellow sinner will not admit to his crime, which in time drives him to torture himself. Hester continues in her punishment as a form of her repentance because she believes that if she keeps the "A" on she will serve her punishment on earth so she can be forgiven in heaven.