ipl-logo

Character Development In Dimmesdale's Guilt

294 Words2 Pages

In Chapters 7-12 Dimmesdale's character development advances the power of guilt in this section of the text. We see Dimmesdale's guilt surface at the end of chapter 10 when Chillingworth finds some sort of figure on Dimmesdale's chest. Although we don't know what this figure is, the audience can assume that this is an "A" that has been spotted. This "A" helps to elaborate the guilt that Dimmesdale is bearing both internally and externally for his role in the bearing of their child Pearl. Dimmesdale's guilt continues to surface when we see his health continue to decline because of the weight he bears for not releasing his name along with Hester's as an adulterer. Hawthorne describes him as being “emaciated” and his voice as having a "certain

Show More
Related

  • How The Reverend Dimmesdale Handled This Passage

    781 Words  | 4 Pages

    Dimmesdale should have come clean right at the start but he instead he covered it up and this opens a door for people to use it against you if they find out. This happens in to Dimmesdale when Chillingworth who at the time was Hester’s ex-husband and Dimmesdale’s doctor, he finds out that his suspicions were right about Dimmesdale being the person that was involved in the affair with Hester when he finds the letter A written on his chest. This opens a door for

    Read More

  • Character Foils In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    612 Words  | 3 Pages

    The reader is especially made aware of Dimmesdale's mental state in the eleventh chapter, “His inward trouble drove him to practices more in accordance with the old, corrupted faith of Rome, than with the better light of the church in which he had been born and bred” [150]. This suggests that he is racked with immense guilt and shame at the falsehood he is living and suggests that he is physically abusing himself as a result of this guilt. This directly contradicts Chillingworth's mental state of fury and vengeance that he falls deeper into as the story progresses. These two characters also hold striking incongruities as to what drives them onward as the account

    Read More

  • Symbols Used By Arthur Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

    1582 Words  | 7 Pages

    When you choose to hold onto a secret, your brain stimulates in your mind just how bad sharing the secret will be, imagining all the possible outcomes. With Arthur Dimmesdale’s decision to conceal his secret he released upon himself negative feelings which led him to self hate and harm. Arthur Dimmesdale’s sin of concealment leads to his downfall because the burden was heavier which led to self punishment, denial of God's worthiness, and eventually death. As a servant of God, it is Dimmesdale’s duty to tell the truth, so lying about adultery for seven years was especially hard on him. Dimmesdale believes that he is a fraud and unfit to lead a town to salvation.

    Read More

  • Dimmesdale In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter

    654 Words  | 3 Pages

    (158), and he replies “More Misery, Hester! Only more misery” (158). In reality, he feels worse about “saving” others because he is really just corrupting the “redemption of [their] souls” by virtue of his own “ruined soul” (158). This quote is important because one argument for not confessing is that you can still help people; however, if your soul is corrupt, how can you save others? In the end, Dimmesdale’s body cannot stand the guilt any longer, and he decides he must confess before he passes away.

    Read More

  • The Scarlet Letter Penance Vs. Penitence

    604 Words  | 3 Pages

    He knows that if he reveals what he has done, then his followers will lose their respect for him. He is burdened with his sin; therefore, he inflicts pain upon himself for his wrongdoing. Dimmesdale goes as far as having vigils all night, being tortured by “diabolic shapes,” and emaciating and whipping himself. Dimmesdale punishes himself because he wants to repent for the sin that he has committed.

    Read More

  • Arthur Dimmesdale's Guilt Quotes

    1158 Words  | 5 Pages

    Mentally, his guilt strains his mind, which causes his physical deterioration, and the weakening of his body. As Dimmesdale finally admits his sin to the townspeople, his guilt is lifted, and he is able to release himself from his captivity. Though he deteriorated both mind and body from his guilt, by telling the townspeople of his sin, it was as if “a spell was broken” (238). He no longer needed to force himself to hide his sin, which was what was hurting him. By finally dealing with his sin in a similar way to Hester, Dimmesdale was able to free himself of his self-imposed captivity and

    Read More

  • The Guilt Of Dimmesdale In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

    319 Words  | 2 Pages

    Erin Joel Mrs. Janosy English 2H P 5 22 October 2015 Quote Explication Dimmesdale is trying to overcome a conflict within his own soul, defying his own religion, and choosing to do wrong by keeping his sin to himself. In a theocracy type community like Dimmesdale's, God is known as the supreme civil ruler, and a crime would be known as a sin. On the other hand, Hester’s sin was made known to the public, receiving the public shame and ridicule she deserved. During the duration of time when the public knew Dimmesdale was hiding his sin, “the agony with which this public tortured him” (Hawthorne 119).

    Read More

  • Who Is Dimmesdale Guilty Of Adultery

    582 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Why, then, had he come hither? Was it but the mockery of penitence? A mockery, indeed, but in which his soul trifled with itself. He had been driven higher by the impulse of that Remorse which dogged him everywhere” (Hawthorne 138) here dimmesdale can 't face the justice of what he has done wrong which is why the author called him a coward and is the reason why he kept his secrets because he is a coward to admit it to and face the consequences which is why later the guilt of keeping them eats him from the inside.

    Read More

  • Dimmesdale And Chillingworth's Secrets In Scarlet Letter

    361 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dimmesdale and Chillingworth both have secrets that make them look and act differently, their secrets affect their character and how they do their job. Dimmesdale is the father of Pearl but he doesn 't want to face the same humiliation as Hester did for his sins. Because of his secret he self punishes and fasts, he also preaches better than he did before although his health is failing. Chillingworth’s secret is that he was the husband of Hester while he was away, before she cheated on him. Chillingworth gets uglier and uglier driven by the need to get revenge on Pearl’s father.

    Read More

  • Arthur Dimmesdale's Marking Quotes

    561 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is revealed that there is something on Dimmesdale’s chest after the physician, Roger Chillingworth, moves aside Dimmesdale’s shirt revealing his chest; (Hawthorne 78) the reader is then led to believe that there is something important about this interaction. The mark, again, is not directly stated so the reader does not know what the mark is. The mark is finally beginning to show itself, so the guilt is starting to work its way outward. At this point there is no way that Dimmesdale will be able to hide his shame forever. Over time the guilt will continue to build up and eventually will consume

    Read More

  • Arthur Dimmesdale's Moral Development In Scarlet Letter

    978 Words  | 4 Pages

    This remark implies that Dimmesdale’s morality revolves around his self-conscience and what is right and wrong in the eyes of society and his social status as a clergymen. He demands Hester to exploit him for his actions in taking part of the adultery scenario with Hester. With respect to Kohlberg’s level of moral reasoning, he is at stage 4 “Maintaining the Social Order” for risking his entire reputation as a respected man in society over the action of one sin. Then, in Chapter 10 by now most of the Puritan society built suspicion of Chillingworth as a devil seeking to take ill Dimmesdale's soul. Since Chillingworth was first seen god like for his knowledge in medical care, he was truly valued by the Puritan society.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Dimmesdale And Chillingworth A Sinner

    480 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Scarlet Letter Essay Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale were two of the main sinners in The Scarlet Letter. Both characters kept their sins secrete throughout the story. These sins included adultery, revenge, and even murder. Out of the two sinners, Chillingworth was the worst, because he never felt guilt for the terrible things he was doing. Dimmesdale spent his entire life in guilt and remorse for the sins he had committed (“Who”).

    Read More

  • Hester And Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter

    743 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Dimmesdale not confessing and facing a punishment in the eyes of the church as well as the townspeople, causing him to take to his own means, while Hester is able to face a punishment. Dimmesdale does what he believes is right for his punishment by doing acts that damaged his mind and body. Dimmesdale, in creating his own punishment, holds vigils that last all night, fasted to the point that he barely ate anything at all, beat himself, and lost the will to live. Dimmesdale's sin stays with him throughout the book, and the readers see his mind and body deteriorate through his mysterious sickness, while the readers see Hester become a closed off outcast trying to repent. The townspeople in the book see DImmesdale's sickness, and how devoted he is to his faith and begin to believe that he is holy, and an angel sent to sent to save them, while Hester has repented and become able, as well as an

    Read More

  • Essay On Chillingworth's Revenge

    550 Words  | 3 Pages

    In reality, he is the reason for Dimmesdale’s suffering. Chillingworth’s sin causes him to be so obstinate that he One may ask why Hester, Dimmesdale, or society are not worse sinners. When looking at each party’s sin it is easy to see who is the most corrupt. While Hester is unfaithful and Dimmesdale is culpable of living a lie, they both are able to accept their wrongdoing. The society is not guilty for their actions and beliefs as they are a product of their time.

    Read More

  • The Hidden Sin In The Scarlet Letter

    686 Words  | 3 Pages

    He was the last person that people would think as a sinner. Dimmesdale was sin when he was committed adultery with Hester. He broke the law of church, but he was afraid to face the punishment and indifferent attitude from he masses. As a faithful follower, Dimmesdale also afraid the punishment of God, so he flog himself with a whip. The physical and spiral torture and the control of Chillingworth stranded him in a world that he cannot contact with others.

    Read More

More about Character Development In Dimmesdale's Guilt

Open Document