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The Guilt Of Reverend Dimmesdale

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In 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 …show more content…

The only way that they could all be a family was if Dimmesdale confessed. Dimmesdale is driven to confess because Pearl feels like his responsibility because he truly does love her, “nothing is sweeter than these marks of childish preference… the minister looked round, laid his hand on the child’s head, hesitated an instant, and then kissed her brow.” (ch 8). Pearl is a reminder of his sin and he is uncertain about showing love to her, but that doesn’t change the fact that he does love her and Hester. Hester was publicly humiliated by wearing the scarlet letter, A, on her bosom. Hester willingly took the blame for all of it even though it hurt her, “Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for, believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to hide a guilty heart through life” (ch 3). Dimmesdale is begging Hester to put the blame on him, but she does not want to cause him shame so she carries the blame for both of them. This hinders Pearl and Hester because they have much more of a burden to carry since Dimmesdale has no punishment according to

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