Some Secrets Kill
(by Nathaniel Hawthorne) Summarized by Elyssa Hodge
Have you ever kept something a secret in order to save someone? Everyone agrees that Hester Prin didn’t tell anyone that Arthur Dimmesdale was the father of Pearl. However some people believe that Hester should have told everyone that Arthur was the father, while others believe she shouldn’t. Hester shouldn’t have told everyone that Arthur was the father for these three reasons: It was better kept as a secret, she might have been harmed, and he fessed up himself.
Hester shouldn’t have told anyone that Arthur was the father, because it was better kept as a secret. Arthur was holy and perfect in the people's eyes, therefore the people probably wouldn’t believe her. And, If the people did believe her they would most likely hate her and blame it on Hester that Arthur did this sinful deed. Lastly, if Hester told everyone that Arthur was the father she might have received a more stern punishment.
Hester shouldn’t have told everyone Arthur was the father, because she might be harmed. Her baby might be hurt which would in turn injure her. Hester’s husband was deeply angered that Hester and Arthur had an affair, so he might hurt or even worse kill the baby in his anger. Also her husband, whose name was Roger Chillingworth, had already gone to the point of knocking Arthur out so he might have also killed the Arthur. And lastly both Hester and Arthur would be at the risk of a hanging.
Hester shouldn’t have told everyone Arthur was the father, because he fessed up himself. Because of Hester’s loyalty to Arthur, Arthur felt in debt to her and stood up for her in hard times. He also daily payed for his wrong doings. By lying to the people about who he was. As Martin Luther said “A lie cannot live.” In the end Arthur died. He was so worn that after he finally told his secret to the people, he died. And I believe that the lie he had to tell for years and years killed him in the end.
Hester shouldn’t have told everyone that Arthur was the father because it was better kept as a secret, she might be harmed, and he fessed up himself.
This matters to Hester, because if she did tell everyone whom the child’s father was she might have gotten the child taken away from her and she herself would probably be killed.
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