Dimmesdales versus Danforths Sins in Hawthornes Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

In the words of Alexander Pope To roam is human. Everybody makes slides. It is human nature. However, how one deals with the mistake is much more important than the mistake itself. In Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter and Arthur Millers The Crucible, Dimmesdale and Danforths sins stimulate similar motives, unless the characters have distinctly different methods of sin and resolution.Dimmesdale is a selfish coward. He does not work toward anything substantial. Although he supposedly hit the hays Hester, he refuses to admit that he was her ?fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer? ( Hawthorne, 65). When drib asks Dimmesdale to accompany her and her mother when they stand at the scaffold, he refuses for fear of prevalent exposure. He has put Pearl and her mother through a lot, but will not stand along side them during their public shame, veritable(a) though he is the cause of it. Danforth, ilk Dimmesdale, is cowardly and selfish. He thinks simply of himself and his position of power as he sends dozens of people to the gallows. He refuses to let the accused have fair trials, denying their requests for legal representation and having a jury of corrupt young girls in charge of sentencing. He does everything he can to keep himself from losing credibility.Both Dimmesdale and Danforth put their careers first. Dimmesdale proves this constantly throughout the appropriate by considering his own career and distinction a higher precedency than Hester, the woman who loves him, and his child, who must grow up, corrupt in the eyes of society, like her mother. Danforth cherishes his position above all else. When Parris, fearing for his well-being, asks Danforth to postpone further sentencing, he replies ? there will be no postponement? (Miller 128). He does not necessity the townspeople to think he is wavering and fears they will begin to head the so-called ?good? of what he is doing for the town and its God-fearing citizens. Danforth and Dimmesdale contrast in the way of their sins of commission and omission. Although Dimmesdale does not openly admit his sins until the end of the story, they yield on his conscience, causing him to engage in self-torturing practices. He confuses the destruction and modify of himself for penance for his sin. Aided by Hester?s angered husband, Dimmesdale weakens himself so much, that he uses the last of his strength in his confession and he dies in Hester?s arms. Danforth suspects he is sending innocent people to their deaths, but through the love of his office, he does not stop his corrupt practices nor attempt to right his wrongs.