What Is The Importance Of Faith In The Scarlet Letter

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formed. In the Scarlet Letter, Reverend Dimmesdale begins to feel distrust in faith in an agonizing moment. While in the forest Dimmesdale confesses that he’s miserable due to his sin. This promotes ideas of atheism which can be interpreted as a growing distrust between himself and his faith. “Were I an atheist -a man devoid of conscience… I might have found peace long ere now....As concerns the good which I may appear to do, I have no faith in it” (Scarlet Letter 123). The mere utterance of the word atheist especially among a reverend in Puritanical society suggests a growing distrusts in faith. Unlike Goodman Brown who was trusting in faith, Reverend Dimmesdale appears to have a different attitude towards it. Instead of calling out to faith he suggests that maybe he would be happier if he were an atheist. There is a growing distrust between faith and the Reverend. …show more content…
Hutchinson. However, there are also similarities and differences between the dominance of faith over one’s life in each of the stories. In Young Goodman Brown along with the Scarlet Letter faith dominates the lives of the characters. When Young Goodman Brown is confronted with an old man in the woods he immediately judges the man, believing that he is wicked and devilish. Faith dominates confrontations that Young Goodman Brown has and reveals itself has a dominant presence in his life. “From New England we are people of prayer and good works to boot, and abide no such wickedness” (YGB 97). Immediately after sighting the man that’s what Goodman Brown said. Faith manifested itself in every human encounter Goodman Brown had shaping his mindset toward certain people. This is important because it reveals the power of faith and the dominance it can have over someone. Faith similar to the story of Young Goodman Brown has
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