Puritan Children were forced to sit straight for more than four hours at a time and intensely listen during church services. If a towns person committed a sin, they face the public and force humiliation upon themselfs as punishment. The harsh rules are apt to bring on sins in the novel The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The sin of adultery affects Hester Prynne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, as well as the Physician Roger Chillingsworth.
After Hester was convicted of adultery, she is forced to wear the scarlet letter "A" upon her breast for everyone to see. This sin affects Hester, by mostly dealing with her emotions; .
"Hester Prynne" cried he, with a piercing earnestness "in the name of Him, so terrible and so merciful, who gives me grace, at this last moment, to do what- for my own heavy sin and miserable agony - I withheld myself from doing seven years ago, come hither now, and twine thy strength about me!" (Hawthorne 112).
The women, in the streets, criticized Hester; ".let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart" (Hawthorne 49). While trying to make money for the rich folks, she was often ridiculed of her daughter Pearl. Though the shame never subsided, Hester learned to grow into a stronger-willed person. After many years, she earned the respect of many Puritans through her craftsmen work and sincerity of her silence; unlike her partner, and Pearls father, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Additionally, the "A" affects the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale emotionally, as well as, physically. He gives himself lash beatings to punish himself for being the hidden father. Through trying to avoid his sin, the Reverend made more complications throughout the rest of his life. It became difficult for him to carry out his job as a Reverend. But also it made his state of mind more sufferable with complications of becoming a hypocrite.
