In his criticism of The Scarlet Letter, Harry Levin discusses the severity of the sins that are committed by Hester Prynne, Reverend Dimmesdale, and Roger Chilingworth. Although all three main characters have sinned in the novel, the ruthlessness of their sins is easily identifiable. Harry Levin takes it upon himself to “rank” the three sinners in The Scarlet Letter based upon their sins, and the circumstances that surround them. The least severe sinner is Hester …showed first 75 words of 632 total…

…showed last 75 words of 632 total…all three main characters have committed sins in The Scarlet Letter, the spitefulness of their sins is easily identifiable. Harry Levin uses a direct and correct placement of Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chilingworth in order from the least to greatest in relationship to the intensity of their actions. In conclusion, it seems one would be in total agreement with this evaluation and interpretation of the characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.