Arthur Dimmesdale And Chillingworth In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Hester Prynne is the main character of the book. She is still young when she has her child, Pearl. She is a strong and determined, and uses her past sin, and the “A” as something to learn from rather than something to be ashamed of. After the shame of getting the “A,” she moved into the outskirts of town and became a seamstress. The way she was able to move on from her sin and continue her life, even after being scorned and

When Dimmesdale is at Governor Bellingham’s house to talk about what actions should be taken regarding Hester’s daughter, Pearl, he shows physical pain from his shame. While they fight about whether or not Pearl should be taken away from Hester, Dimmesdale is described as, “the young minister at once came forward, pale, and holding his hand over his heart, as was his custom whenever his peculiarly nervous temperament was thrown into agitation” (Hawthorne 117). Since Pearl is the real-world symbol of Dimmesdale’s sin, she causes him to hold his hand over his heart because he is overwhelmed with the shame and guilt of seeing her and having to keep his sin a secret. Dimmesdale thinks of his sin as not showing loyalty to God; However, he avoids confessing his sin do to the fear of judgement, and losing his upheld reputation in the society. As a result, he can never ease the shame and guilt to release his suffering.

Dimmesdale feels like a hypocrite, because he is portrayed as a pure man, but on the inside he is a sinner. Also, the more he tries to confess his sins, the more the congregation love his sermons. Dimmesdale even tries to reveal his inner self throughout the novel. In chapter 20 Dimmesdale wants to do bad things to show that he is impure, “it was only by the most careful self-control that the former could refrain from uttering certain blasphemous suggestions that rose into his mind” (207). The feeling of hypocrisy is driving Dimmesdale crazy, but Hester does not have this feeling.The reader sees that Dimmesdale is actually jealous of Hester, “Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret! Thou little knowest what a relief it is, after the torment of a seven years' cheat, to look into an eye that recognizes me for what I am!” (183) Hester does not have to deal with this guilt as much as Dimmesdale, because she was already publically punished. Everyone knows that she is a sinner, so she doesn’t have to hide it. In fact, after a couple of years, people began to see her as a saint, rather than a sinner. They even say that her scarlet letter stands for “able”. Dimmesdale’s whole life revolves around the shame and suffering of his sin, which is why he dies after he confesses his sin. However, because Hester’s sin is publically revealed, she only suffers for a couple of

Both characters are put down by their own struggles but naturally learn very different lessons. Dimmesdale slowly but surely begins to understand how severe the damages of his guilt, hiding, and hypocrisy are to his soul. He goes through intense episodes of self harm and abuse as he lives with Chillingworth, the evil physician who acts as a catalyst to strengthening the grief and guilt that shadows poor Dimmesdale. After seven long years of hiding his sin and relationship with Hester from the public, Dimmesdale realizes how absurd his decision to conceal his struggle is. While conversing with Hester in the shadowy forest, free from Puritan judgement, Dimmesdale exclaims, "Else, I should long ago have thrown off these garments of mock holiness, and have shown myself to mankind as they will see me at the judgment-seat. Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!" (Hawthorne 167). Dimmesdale is finally brought to his senses when he reveals his admiration for Hester’s bravery in being accountable for the sin. He realizes that if he could have adopted his sin upon the scaffold as hester does seven years prior, he would be much better off. While Dimmesdale sees Hester embracing her sin, he feels that she has put herself through much

He is unwilling to profess to the Puritan community of his wrongdoings, regardless of having committed the same sin as Hester (adultery). Dimmesdale allows Hester to bear the shame and humiliation of their shared sin. As a consequence of placing all the blame on Hester, he submits to self-punishment to repent for his actions. Cowardice of facing the consequences will inevitably lead to his own destruction. Ignorance is also a major aspect of Dimmesdale’s downfall.

Arthur Dimmesdale committed the same sin as Hester Prynne but unlike Hester he never confessed to the community making him a bigger coward and sinner. Dimmesdale is seen throughout the novel holding his chest on the same place the letter is attached to Hester Prynne, this shows that no one can run away from the scarlet letter, it will always be there to confront you whether you like it or not. Dimmesdale ignores the guilt that he feels for the horrible sin that he committed which causes him to be extremely ill, “While thus suffering under bodily disease, and gnawed and tortured by some black trouble of the soul, and given over to the machinations of his deadliest enemy.”

Reverand Dimmesdale is a beloved Puritan minister who's Hester's paramour and father of Pearl. He was a man of hypocrisy whom couldn't endure the deception of preaching from his sins. Dimmesdale wished to reveal himself as Hester's lover, yet she refuses. The concealment of their crime psychological affects him since it's morally weakening him and a direct violation of the Ten Commandments. However,

The Scarlet Letter: A Romance is an 1850 work of fiction in a historical setting, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and is considered to be his magnum opus. Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts, during the years 1642 to 1649, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt.

In the beginning of the novel, Dimmesdale desperately wants Hester to tell everyone who the father of Pearl is (Hawthorne 64). Dimmesdale does not yet know it but he is the father of Pearl. He does back off after Hester flat out refuses, saying “Her child has a heavenly father and will never know an earthly one” (Hawthorne 65). Everyone who is around them is screaming at Hester to reveal the culprit so he can stand up beside her. Dimmesdale decides that it is best to

The Scarlet Letter describes the story of Hester Prynne, who gives birth to a daughter after an affair with the minister, Arthur Dimmesdale. The town finds Hester guilty of adultery and she is required to wear a scarlet "A" on her dress to shame her. Hester chooses to keep the identity of the father to herself, and Dimmesdale does not come forward with this knowledge because he feels he is such a moral figure to the townspeople. Although Hester goes through the public shame by the citizens who found her guilty, she herself does not feel guilt or shame. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, goes through a much more painful way of life by internalizing his shame which is much more damaging to

Hester stood on the scaffold with their baby, Pearl, for her sin. Dimmesdale did not and he feels guilty for not confessing his sin and keeping it secret from everyone. He feels guilty because he is a pastor and so many people look up to him. “It is inconceivable, the agony with which this public veneration tortured him!” (Hawthorne 158). He feels he should not have so much admiration. Secretly he is a sinner, Hester’s lover, and the father of Pearl. Only he, Hester, and Chillingworth know, even though he does not know that Chillingworth knows. Hester has to wear the scarlet letter, but he goes unpunished, or at least by the public. He punishes himself rather than be publicly shamed. Under his clothes, on his chest, he bears the scarlet letter, too, but hidden. Not only that, but he tortures himself. Consumed by guilt, he fasts and holds vigils, depriving himself of basic human needs. Not only that, but he whips his self, purposefully inflicting pain on himself. Punishing himself, though, has not worked for him. “Of penance, I have had enough! Of penitence, there has been none!” (Hawthorne 212). He doesn’t regret what he did with Hester, he doesn’t regret his sin, because he loves

The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne is set in the 17th century Boston, a city governed by austere Puritan law. This novel begins with Hester Prynne, the protagonist in the story, is led out of prison while carrying an infant, named Pearl. She stands on the scaffold in the village square for several hours with the red letter “A” embroidered on her and dress. Hester refused to name the father and takes up residence in a cottage with her daughter. Several years later, Hester runs into her husband (Roger Chillingworth) and her true love (Reverend Dimmesdale). Chillingworth plots to seek revenge on Dimmesdale but Dimmesdale ultimately confesses to his sin after he delivers a sermon to the public, and dies shortly after. Lastly, Chillingworth

Because Dimmesdale is the one Hester was with he has a scarlet letter of his own. “Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!” (Hawthorne 173). For him the scarlet letter represents his secret sin that he commits with Hester, and is also a symbol of his shame and disgrace.

Tormented by his guilty conscience, Dimmesdale goes to the square where Hester was punished years earlier. Climbing the scaffold, he admits his guilt to them but cannot find the courage to do so publicly. Hester, shocked by Dimmesdale, decides to obtain a release from her promise of silence to her husband. Several days later, Hester meets Dimmesdale in the forest and tells him of her husband and his desire for revenge. She convinces Dimmesdale to leave Boston in secret on a ship to Europe, where they can start a new life. On Election Day, Dimmesdale gives what is declared to be one of his most inspired sermons. But as the procession leaves the church, Dimmesdale climbs upon the scaffold and confesses his sin, dying in Hester's arms. Later, most witnesses swear that they saw a stigma in the form of a scarlet A upon his chest, although some deny it. Chillingworth, losing his will for revenge, dies shortly after and leaves Pearl an inheritance. After, Hester returns to her cottage and resumes wearing the scarlet letter. When she dies, she is buried near the grave of Dimmesdale, and they share a simple slate tombstone engraved with words saying: "On a field, sable, the letter A,

A major reason why Dimmesdale did not tell the townspeople that he committed adultery was that he was the respected minister of the town and a trusted leader. Dimmesdale, knew that Hester was married but their emotional connect drove him to have sex with her. Dimmesdale's, sin is much worse than Hester’s because her secret is out in the open, unlike Dimmesdale who is too scared to share his secret. Dimmesdale even admits his guilt from keeping his sin a secret, “Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!”( Hawthorne 173 ). Dimmesdale realizes that if he were to be a good honest man, he should of told the others what he has done and accepted his fate. Another reason why Dimmesdale’s offense is greater than Hester’s is that he refuses to get to know his own daughter. The daughter born out of his adulterous relationship, Pearl, is disconnected from her father because he does not even wish to get to know her in secret. During one of Hester and Dimmesdale’s secret meetings in the woods, Hester begs Dimmesdale to try and get to know Pearl, and maybe he will end up liking her. Dimmesdale still chooses to not to get to know his daughter and even fears there may be a resemblance between them; “this dear child, tripping about always at