Hester In The Woods Analysis

Following his encounter with Hester in the woods, Dimmesdale projects himself onto others around him in order to protect himself from his selfish fears. Dimmesdale uses Hester’s willingness to take the blame in order to separate himself from the shame of the affair. He labels Hester as fully “accountable” for all of their problems so that he doesn’t have to admit his own wrongdoings (181). The minister knowingly accepts that Hester “bore it all” and continues to let her deal with the repercussions of their joint sin, resisting moral cleansing (181). Instead of accepting his faults, he chooses to act piously, physically weakening himself. His weakened state directly mirrors his moral weakness. By not confessing his culpability in the situation,