Hester faces unjust judgment, her act of sin was not committed alone and although she faces a life of judgment, Dimmesdale who is just as sinner lives without judgment. Dimmesdale's status as a reverend places him above Hester, and his relationship with the church gives the impression that he is pure and sinless. The townspeople revere Dimmesdale and consider him the perfect example of a Christian, proving the unequal treatment of people that religion engenders. The townspeople are blinded by Dimmesdale's connection to the church. When they speak of him in relation to Hester's sin, it is argued that he "takes it very much to heart that such a scandal should have fallen upon his congregation", showing that his status makes him free from all association or judgment. This also highlights the unequal aspects of religion in terms of gender, as the woman Hester is given full responsibility for sin and the birth of a child. By living with sin, Hester also becomes aware of the unequal judgment she faces and acts as a moral judge. From an outsider's perspective, she realizes that many people around her have sinned, "criticizing them all with little more respect than an Indian would feel for the clerical band", demonstrating the power of religion and how not everyone pays for their sins. . Frédéric also witnesses the inequality of