Reverend Dimmesdale is one troubled man. He is a brilliant speaker‚ a kind man‚ a wise reverend – everyone loves this guy. However‚ he was also Hester’s illicit lover and the father of her child‚ Pearl. He remains silent about his sin‚ even while he publicly urges Hester to reveal the name of her lover. The narrator indicates that Dimmesdale is one of those individuals who secretly practices self-flagellation to punish himself for his sin. This suggests that he is susceptible to shame‚ but secretive
Free Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter Theology
Hawthorne‚ Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is a young man who achieved fame in England as a theologian and then immigrated to America. In a moment of weakness‚ he and Hester Prynne‚ a young‚ beautiful‚ married woman whose husband is away in Europe‚ become lovers. Although he will not confess it publicly‚ Dimmesdale is the father of her child; also‚ he deals with the guilt by tormenting himself physically and psychologically‚ developing a heart condition in the process. Dimmesdale is an intelligent and emotional
Premium The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel‚ The Scarlet Letter‚ Reverend Dimmesdale is struggling with publicizing his sin so that he can seek forgiveness. Dimmesdale and hester have committed adultery‚ and Pearl is the result. He also struggles because the community keeps referring to him as a holy man because he is a minister of the town‚ but no one knows the truth except Hester. As the storyline progresses in The Scarlet Letter‚ Reverend Dimmesdale is a silent sufferer‚ then a secret‚ guilt-ridden sinner‚ and
Premium The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne Hester Prynne
This is shown through many characters‚ but most effectively through the personalities of Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale. Both Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale‚ appear as having a two-faced identity. It is this conflict that eventually brings about the fall of these characters. Roger Chillingworth‚ the husband of Hester‚ hides his identity. While Arthur Dimmesdale‚ who is also guilty of adultery‚ hides behind his position. Both later die from the burden of their "public" and "private"
Premium Marriage Wife William Shakespeare
Arthur Dimmesdale in "The Scarlet Letter" The Scarlet Letter is a story of characters that have to live and deal with the effects of sin in different ways. Of these characters‚ the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is the character portrayed as the most weak and unnoble. Despite this portrayal Dimmesdale was a stronger character than given credit for. His unbelievable amount of control in his way of handling his burdens displays his great sense of strength and intellect. We first see Dimmesdale portrayed
Premium The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne Hester Prynne
the Puritan society influenced his new way of thinking. The church elder‚ one of the deacons from his church‚ addressed him with paternal affection and had upright and holy character. The wise man of old age payed his respects to Dimmesdale for his accomplishments. Dimmesdale could barely keep himself from shouting offensive things to him about God. He was afraid that he would accidentally speak of what he was saying on his mind. “The old man‚ addressed him with the paternal affection and patriarchal
Premium God Christianity Jesus
Analyzation of Dimmesdale Arthur Dimmesdale was a key component in The Scarlet Letter‚ he committed the sin of adultery with Hester Prynne. Dimmesdale went through drastic physical and mental changes throughout the course of the novel. Between Roger Chillingworth torturing him in his home‚ and having to deny his daughter‚ Pearl‚ the recognition she deserves‚ Dimmesdale’s wellbeing has been damaged. Throughout the story Hawthorne shows Dimmesdale’s feelings of pain and sorrow through not being able
Premium Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne
One of those being a man named Arthur Dimmesdale‚ who is known for being a sinful and hypocritical individual. He is part of the Puritan community who are very judgmental people‚ which sets up the perfect situation for confrontations. Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates his theme that secrets that are hidden will have its consequences. Dimmesdale is very conflicted with himself and also with the community; he struggles with doing the what is right. Arthur Dimmesdale is a reverend of the Puritan community
Premium Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne
Authur Dimmesdale‚ a puritan reverend in Boston‚ fell in love with Hester Prynne‚ a young woman married to Roger Chillingworth. His inability to control his feelings led to an adulterous relationship between himself and Hester‚ resulting in the birth of Pearl. Both Hester and Authur lived guiltily‚ and Dimmesdale punished himself for the sin he committed. When Chillingworth arrived in America and realized his wife’s affair‚ he sought to discover Pearl’s father and take vengeance. Since Dimmesdale felt
Premium Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne
The secrecy behind Dimmesdale and Hester’s tawdry affair emphasizes a sole‚ unique aspect within the three individuals that‚ when combined‚ create the crucial essences contained in each human being: the malicious facet‚ religious loyalty and guilt‚ and the need for redemption. Dimmesdale inhabits the shame brought on by religiosity. After sinning twice‚ first the adultery he commit with Hester and second by lying and hiding the first‚ Dimmesdale wallows in his own guilt. He begins to have visions
Premium Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne