Life Defined by a Single Moment in Scarlet Letter, Red...

A Life Defined by a Single Moment in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, Stephen Cranes Red Badge of Courage, and Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment Life can be changed by a decision made during a single moment. Despite the natural gifts of courage or intelligence of a person, a single mistake can isolate him from the rest of society. In one case this can be cause by public conception. The public believes that this person is morally inferior and singles out that person for ridicule. However, it can also be self-imposed isolation. Either way, that person cannot rejoin his society until he has redeemed himself. In Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, both kinds of moral isolation are examined. Hester Prynne is placed in the publics scorn†¦show more content†¦As a result, a mark that resembles an A appears on his chest as a symbol of his guilt, and while Hester grows stronger because of her redemptive acts, Dimmesdale grows weaker because he has believed all of his life that confession is the only relief from guilt. He tries to rationalize his omission to his congregation by telling himself that he will serve the people better as a preacher, but he is an intelligent man and cannot convince himself of a lie. After seven years of physical and mental depreciation, he can only find redemption by joining Hester on the scaffold and revealing his own scarlet letter. For Hester and Dimmesdales one lapse in judgment and self control, their lives were completely changed. Henry in The Red Badge of Courage is an example of a person whose life is changed due to a brief moment of cowardice. Though his original intention was to join the army and to become a hero, when he is first confronted with a real battle, he runs. Once he regains his senses, he is terribly ashamed and does his best not to reveal his momentary desertion to the other soldiers. His relief comes from what he believes to be a heroic deed. When he goes into battle again, instead of running, he settles into a rhythm of loading and firing his gun until the enemy had retreated and his own army had stopped shooting. Though this reaction stems from the same fear that caused him to run, Henry