in the scarlet letter, who suffers more, hester or the minister??? why?
2007-10-13 13:24:05 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
It was most definitly Hester that suffered the most.
Sure, she acknowledged her sin, and was eventually accepted again by the community as a seamstress and all around good person, but who was it that had to deal with Pearl's questions, who was it that had to internalize the pain felt when the man she really loved would not acknowledge her except under the cover of night? Hester may have put on a good show, but she had two secrets to keep- the identity of Chillingsworth and the identity of her lover.
The reverend never had to suffer as she did. Of course, he had to keep a secret, but that was to save his own skin. His torment was self-inflicted and could have been simply relieved. He certainly would have had to deal with a bit of embarassment once he admitted his sin. he would have been ostracized for a time, but ultimately, like Hester, he would have been accepted and left alone. Several lives would actually have become bareable had he confessed earlier. He unfortuantely died just as he revealed himself, relieving himself of and torment he would have dealt with.
2007-10-13 14:41:15 · answer #1 · answered by lizzielicious 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hester
2007-10-13 13:26:50 · answer #2 · answered by midnitrondavu 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to decide because it's almost equal...
Hester can never reveal Pearl's true father
The Reverend Dimsdale can never reveal that he fell in love with Hester and is responsible for Pearl's existence.
And what about Pearl? In that time, she was shunned because of her unclear parentage. Don't you think SHE suffered because of her parents' sufferings?
2007-10-13 13:32:15 · answer #3 · answered by bitadkins 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What about "Pearl" - She suffered the most because she can never in her lifetime be with either of her Real parents due to the Cruelty of the crowd. Also just think : Was she abused as a little tot because people Used her as a "target" to make her mom and dad pay? What kind of young adult will "Pearl" become? Or will she not Live to reach her teens???
2007-10-13 13:47:38 · answer #4 · answered by snowbunny360 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A prig doesn't suffer because it gets pointed out he is priggish; he derives pleasure from his pain.
Hester doesn't really suffer, either; we all know it pays to advertise.
It's an intriguing premise, but the book ultimately is a bad book, because it fails to get the reader's willing suspension of disbelief. The ones who suffer most are the kids assigned to read this claptrap nonsense.
2007-10-13 13:31:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
i would say the minister. he loves a woman he can't have- not only because she has a husband (somewhere out there), but because his religion tells him it's wrong. not only that, but he tortures himself to atone for his sins and still can't overcome his baser instincts.
also, i would say that the guilt weighs on him more than it does on hester, because he is unable to reveal his sins to a society that looks up to him as a paragon of holiness.
2007-10-13 13:29:55 · answer #6 · answered by yura_slash 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hester the minister is in it for himself
2007-10-13 13:28:03 · answer #7 · answered by smilez 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the minister because he is a good man and it must kill him to helplessly watch the woman he loves suffer.
2007-10-13 13:26:55 · answer #8 · answered by Fancy That 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the reverand...by publicly acknowledging her sin, Hester is freed from it and grows as a person. conversely, Dimmesdae suffers greatly as the burden of his silent sin/ his guilt comsume him
2007-10-13 13:27:59 · answer #9 · answered by kELY 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both suffer equally, but in different directions
2007-10-13 13:28:41 · answer #10 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋