Does Guilt Affect Physical Appearance?

Guilt is knowing and realizing one has done wrong.  If having conscience of guilt for a long period of time, I do believe one’s outer appearance will begin to resemble their inner flaw.

“The Scarlet Letter” puts forth characters whose outer appearances dwindle or change during the novel.  “A change had come over his features-how much uglier they were-how his dark complexion seemed to have grown duskier, and his figure more misshapen-since the days when she had familiarly known him”(108).  Roger Chillingworth’s physical appearance is decaying throughout the novel, because of his want for revenge.  He is sucking the life out of Dimmesdale like a leech.  Turning evil because of Hester and Dimmesdale’s mistake of adultery, Chillingworth is unrecognizable to Hester as she knew him in England upon first marrying.  “The health of Dimmesdale had evidently begun to fail”(116).  Dimmesdale is the other half of Hester’s sin.  He is a weak character in that he never comes forth when Hester is first accused of adultery.  Dimmesdale hides behind his shame and guilt.  He is afraid of revealing this secret to a Puritan community in where he is the preacher.  Therefore, “His nerve seemed absolutely destroyed.  His moral force was abased into more than childish weakness”(155).

 

 

I have noticed how some people dress to according how they feel.  Such as if a person feels sad about their cat just dying, they will most likely wear darker, more comfortable clothes.  Another person who feels awesome and ready to go for their day might dress in lighter colors to reflect their amazing mood.