The main characters whose lies devastate the characters in the novel, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, and Hester. Each character once told a lie about their character or identity. First, Dimmesdale is well known in the community as a minister who gives sermons. But the townspeople do not know about the relationship between him and Hester. He lies because he doesn't want to give up his reputation as a minister. The effect of his lie is that he has a guilty conscience, thinks he has "sold himself to the devil" and, ironically, people see him as a saint. (Hawthorne 193). Next, Chillingworth is an old man known in the community as the town doctor who makes medicine and takes care of people when they are sick. He lies because he doesn't want anyone to know his true identity. The effect of his lie is that he turns into an avenger who seeks to destroy Dimmesdale. Finally, Hester is well known in the community as the woman who wears the scarlet letter A because she commits adultery and became pregnant with a little girl named Pearl. She lies because she doesn't want anyone to know about her and Dimmesdale's relationship. The effect of her lie is that she and Dimmesdale cannot see each other publicly, Pearl has no real father to look up to every day, and Dimmesdale's character begins to deteriorate. As the story continues, Hester is the first character to reveal the truth, which will affect Dimmesdale the most. One of the main characters who lies is Dimmesdale, a well-known minister from Massachusetts. The reason he lies is to maintain his reputation as a minister by not telling anyone that he commits adultery with Hester and is Pearl's father. He... middle of paper... to know her identity so he can torment Dimmesdale. The effect of his lie is that he turns into an avenger because he wants to see Dimmesdale suffer. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the main characters in the novel as an example of dishonesty, because each of them has the ability to tell the truth. For example, Hester could have told the truth in the beginning about Dimmesdale being Pearl's father, but wait until she sees Dimmesdale at his weakest. The reason Dimmesdale is at his weakest point is because Chillingworth is tormenting Dimmesdale while Hester remains silent. The longer you wait to confess the truth, the greater the damage you do to yourself and others. If the truth had been told sooner, Dimmesdale will be a happy minister, Hester will not wear the scarlet letter A, and Chillingworth will not turn into an avenger..