The Scarlet Letter: Admitted, Hidden & No Guilt Puritans believe that confession is a means of purifying the soul. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story, The Scarlet Letter, admitted guilt, such as that of Hester Prynne, who wore a scarlet letter pinned on her shirt, cleanses the soul, whereas hidden guilt, such as that of Dimmesdale, who kept his branded letter under his clothing, causes suffering, whereas no guilt, such as that of Chillingworth, whose mission in life is to seek revenge, causes a sense of coldness. Guilt that is openly admitted is eventually cleansed out of the system.