Character Analysis Of Reverend Dimmesdale From 'The Scarlet Letter'
There is always a defining moment in every novel revealing how a certain character will be shown. These moments are “first” seen through the initial action of each character and then ended by their “last”. Each “first” defines how someone is seen, but there is always a turning point in each novel that changes at least one character for the better. The “last” of Reverend Dimmesdale from The Scarlet Letter shows how much he has changed since the beginning of the novel into a better, more dauntless man. At the beginning of the novel Reverend Dimmesdale acted cowardly, not being strong enough to reveal the truth of his sin thus allowing the guilt to destroy him inside out. But finally at the end of the novel he is able to come at peace with what he has done and has a few significant last actions, words, and expositions.
In chapter 23, page 234 Reverend Dimmesdale's last action is revealed to be, “With a convulsive motion he tore away the ministerial band from before his breast… Then, down he sank upon the scaffold!”. This action is filled with great power and emotion, which is able to accurately describe Dimmesdale. He is finally able to let go of his sin and diminish the excessive amount of guilt he felt from his powerful yet
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Hester is inquiring if they will be able to live their “immortal life together”, trying to figure out what could be between those two seeing that the truth was finally unveiled. Although it was shown throughout the novel of how much Dimmesdale longed to be with Hester, he realizes that they may not be able to be together forever and solemnity responds that although God is very forgiving, their sin may not allow them to have eternal happiness like they would have hoped for. This bitter action allows the author to intentionally suggest that you cannot always receive what you long for and all actions have
Hester Prynne And Arthur Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter
696 Words | 3 PagesIn chapter 17, Hester went to the forest to see if she could have a talk with Dimmesdale. When she spotted him, she asked Dimmesdale if he had found any peace. Dimmesdale replied, "None--nothing but despair!" and “Hester, I am most miserable!"
How The Reverend Dimmesdale Handled This Passage
781 Words | 4 PagesThe two ways that sin is handled in the book are the two ways that many Christians today handle their own sin now and that is the way that Reverend Dimmesdale handled it and the way that Hester Prim handled it, and how it relates to psalms 32:3-5. The main difference between the two main characters in the story was the way that they handled sin Hester Prim let her sin be exposed, and she tried to get through it she did not run or fight or make excuses for herself, instead she just lets people say what they want to say about her and instead tries to help the poor by making them cloths. This is a good way to handle your sin but it is not the best way because from what she should have immediately turned back to god and confessed and try to learn
How Did Arthur Dimmesdale Believe In The Scarlet Letter
935 Words | 4 PagesInstead, he climbed on the scaffold immediately in an attempt for instant relief from his persistent guilt. His plea for instant relief manifested itself in the release of “an outcry that went pealing through the night.” Finally, when Dimmesdale receives a chance to be free once and for all, he abolishes it as well as all hope of freedom from his chains of guilt. On Reverend Wilson’s way home from Governor Winthrop’s deathbed, he treads right past the scaffold upon which Dimmesdale stands. Unsurprisingly, he did not speak a word to expose his position, and Dimmesdale remained anonymous in the most public location in town.
How Is Dimmsdale Presented In The Scarlet Letter
741 Words | 3 PagesDimsdale is reluctant to admit his sin because he has the mentality that he can never lose respect from the public however in order to gain redemption for his sins he has to sacrifice his reputation. Dimsdale is one of the main characters in Nathaniel Hawthorn’s “The Scarlet Letter” he is the minister of the puritan community in Boston and everyone in the community looks up to him. Dimsdale is the puritan minister of Boston who has a high reputation who is considered to be an important member of the community. Sin is intolerable within the puritan community and that is why Dimsdale is so conflicted when it comes to confessing his sin since he is a person that everyone looks up to.
An Analysis Of Reverend Dimmesdale In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
132 Words | 1 PagesAccording to Hawthorne, the consequence of sin is mental deterioration as represented by Reverend Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale is a priest that has committed a vile crime, although only a scanty amount of people know about it. Dimmesdale has not publically announced his sin, which in turn worsens his mental health due to guilt. Dimmesdale stood in front of the town when his past lover, Hester, was being publically humiliated and never uttered a word, only placed “his hand upon his heart” (59). The consequence of not admitting his immoral sin was ultimate guilt.
Dimmesdale Did Enough For Forgiveness In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
602 Words | 3 PagesI believe Dimmesdale did enough for forgiveness because in the end of the story, he stood on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl. In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne in chapter 23 Hawthorne states; “Hester Prynne," cried he, with a piercing earnestness, "in the name of Him, so terrible and so merciful, who gives me grace, at this last moment, to do what--for my own heavy sin and miserable agony--I withheld myself from doing seven years ago, come hither now, and twine thy strength about me! Thy strength, Hester; but let it be guided by the will which God hath granted me! This wretched and wronged old man is opposing it with all his might!--with all his own might, and the fiend's! Come, Hester--come!
The Consequences Of Hester And Dimmesdale
273 Words | 2 PagesDespite committing adultery,Hester and Dimmesdale are saved. From the second chapter to the end of the book, Hester has been making up for her sins and dealing with the consequences of her actions. Even though dimmesdale did not confess until the enfo the book, he still suffered the consequences of his sin. Dimmesdale is saved because he confesses his sin to the whole town even though it was seven years late. “At last--- at last I stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood, here, with this women….”
Scarlet Letter By Arthur Dimmesdale
778 Words | 4 PagesDimmesdale presumes, “That my labours, and my sorrows, and my sins, and my pains, should shortly end with me, and what is earthly of them be buried in my grave, and the spiritual go with me to my eternal state, rather than that you should put your skill to the proof in my behalf.” As mentioned before, the truth always comes out and Dimmesdale is naive to think the townspeople can be deceived into having a perfect image of the Reverend. Arthur Dimmesdale is the image of a reverend on the path to heaven but, after the sins committed, becomes a man of hypocrisy. Dimmesdale believes dying with the sins would end the transgressions, however, the Reverend soon finds out that the soul and body of Dimmesdale would be tortured into revealing the
The Guilt Of Reverend Dimmesdale
861 Words | 4 PagesIn Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is convicted of adultery and the whole town ostracises her for her sin and the secrecy of who the father is, who is coincidentally their preacher, Reverend Dimmesdale. The town fails to find out the true identity of the father until he confesses seven years later after the birth of Pearl. While Hester is able to forgive herself with the help of her only treasure, Pearl, Reverend Dimmesdale does not forgive himself. When Rev. Dimmesdale fails to confess and forgive himself, he dooms his life forever because of the burden of his sin; but, not only did it hurt his life, it hurt Hester and Pearl and the rest of the community. Reverend Dimmesdale feels very guilty for not confessing to
Conformity Revealed By Arthur Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
836 Words | 4 PagesHumans have a tendency to conform and often neglect the potential consequences of doing so. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author introduces those consequences through a respected clergyman and sinner named Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale struggles with his guilty conscience and cowardice to confess his sin which prompts him to abide by societal rules but question himself in private. Dimmesdale’s conflict between outward conformity and inward questioning contributes to the novel’s message that everybody must confront their sins or they will fall victim to some form of retribution.
Rhetorical Devices In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
470 Words | 2 PagesHawthorne uses chapter twenty-two, “The Procession”, to put all the pieces of the puzzle of the conflict together. This is where the reader remotely begins to understand how the ending of the novel will come to an end. To reveal the conclusion to the reader, Hawthorne uses rhetorical devices such as, irony, simile, and diction. To expose the irony in this chapter, Hawthorne writes of Dimmesdale’s sermon. As Dimmesdale speaks, “if the auditor listened intently, and for the purpose, he could detect the same cry of pain.”
Theme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter
980 Words | 4 PagesGuilty as Charged: The Scarlet Letter Thematic Essay Nathaniel Hawthorne, an anti-transcendentalist author in the 1800’s, wrote The Scarlet Letter. The story, taking place during the 1600’s in a Puritan society, is about Hester, who commits adultery and wears a scarlet A on her chest for punishment. The author uses symbolism, which is using characters or objects to represent an idea, throughout the entire narrative.
Arthur Dimmesdale's Moral Development In Scarlet Letter
978 Words | 4 PagesThe narrator states, "Arthur Dimmesdale gazed into Hester's face with a look in which hope and joy shone out, indeed, but with fear betwixt them, and a kind of horror at her boldness, who had spoken what he vaguely hinted at, but dared not to speak" (Hawthorne 138). Nevertheless, his moral development continuously stays at Stage 1 "Obedience and Punishment Orientation" because yet again his actions are selfish. He is more considerate about his
Social Status In The Scarlet Letter
754 Words | 4 PagesHowever, at Dimmesdale’s deathbed, when he finally confesses, he realizes that his “death [is] of triumphant ignominy before the people! Had either of these agonies been wanting, I had been lost for ever!” (Hawthorne 383). Dimmesdale finally feels the freedom when he steps down to Hester’s level and onto the scaffold. By lowering his belief if his status, Dimmesdale is able to
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