Scarlet Letter -- the Aftermath Term Paper

They also become physically afflicted, afflicted in their corrupt and judgmental flesh, in the case of Chillingworth, rotting like a plant.

Hawthorne's fairy-tale like ending, however unrealistic it may sound, because surely the bad and cowardly are not always punished by death and despair, does strike one true note. People who morally condemn others are entirely dependant upon finding moral causes to uphold, and people to defame. With no one to blame, and with their principles shown to be misguided, they have nothing to live for. With no one to condemn, Chillingworth has no reason to exist. His morality has no positive force to help others, only to hurt and judge.

It is not hard for me to see many Chillingsworths on television today.Turn on Fox News, and hear people condemn others whom they see as immoral. They are always right, and others are always wrong. But if they did not have anyone to cast out of their midst and condemn, what would they be? Nothing. If I were alive in the New England of the novel, I like to think I would stand next to Hester, but since that age is past, at least I can stand with tolerance and compassion today, and try to speak for those who are also misunderstood.

Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. The Free Library Online. http://hawthorne.thefreelibrary.com/Scarlet-Letter/25-1.....