The Guilt Of Reverend Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
In The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the story of Hester Prynne, a puritan woman living in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the year 1642. She lived in a community where religion and law were almost inseparable. She is known for committing an adulterous crime that is punishable by both religion and law. After moving to Boston from England without her husband, Hester engaged in an affair and had a child named Pearl. After refusing to reveal the father of her child, Reverend Dimmesdale, she is sentenced to wear a mark of her crime on her clothing for the rest of her life. Her husband, Roger Chillingworth, finally comes to Boston, seeking vengeance against Dimmesdale. Although most of the town forgives Hester for her sin, Hawthorne suggest …show more content…
During a conversation between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale, Chillingworth attempts to gather more information about Dimmesdale. However, Dimmesdale begins to grow suspicious. He wants to confess but instead, Hawthorne depicts him as “gripping hard at his breast, as if afflicted with an importunate throb of pain” (Hawthorne, 119). The Reverend was filled with so much remorse it began to ache him in the very place Hester wore her Scarlet Letter. His crime has not yet been forgiven because of the damage it is doing to his mind. Hawthorne alludes that Dimmesdale’s sin has not been forgiven because he has been lying to the people of the town. He has a committed a sin that he warns other people not to commit. Amid a conversation with Hester in the woods Dimmesdale cries “I have laughed in bitterness and agony of heart, at the contrast between what I seem and what I am” (173). Essentially, Dimmesdale names himself a hypocrite. He presents himself to the world as a different person than he actually is. His sin is not forgiven because it has caused agony to his heart and he is left in a great deal of
How Does Chillingworth's Character Change Throughout The Scarlet Letter
558 Words | 3 PagesOriginally, Chillingworth becomes very close with Dimmesdale. Then, he uses his position as physician to bring guilt upon Dimmesdale. Chillingworth asks him many questions, and Dimmesdale replies with “[why] call in a physician, and then hide the sore” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 93). He shows a lot of “fierceness” and forcefulness to Dimmesdale in trying to get him to confess his sin with Hester(Hawthorne, 1994, p. 94).
How Is Dimmsdale Presented In The Scarlet Letter
741 Words | 3 PagesThis internal conflict of sin over reputation is a huge burden for him. This desire to have redemption and respect is unattainable but he tries to find a solution by trying to find a way to redeem himself by any other means so he can still keep his respect within the community. “ in order to purify the body, and render it the fitter medium of celestial illumination—but rigorously, and until his knees trembled beneath him, as an act of penance…. he tortured, but could not purify himself” (96). He does this by whipping himself when he is alone but in the end, he still knows that even though he thinks that he brutally punishes himself he still feels the guilt and he knows that he will never have salvation from hs sin unless he confesses his
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!
Who Is Dimmesdale's Decay In The Scarlet Letter
417 Words | 2 PagesDimmesdale attempts to inform his congregation of his terrible sin: “He had told his hearers that he was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest, the worst of sinners, an abomination, a thing of unimaginable iniquity... They [his congregation] heard it all, and did but reverence him the more” (114). Dimmesdale truly reveals the fact of his unholiness, but fails to reference any details to his congregation. They paint him in an even holier light, and understand that only a true saint like Dimmesdale can call himself unholy in this way. However, Dimmesdale’s conscience is wrecked, because he is unable to reveal his sin, despite his multiple public attempts, and his anguish lingers.
What Is The Juxtaposition Of The Night In The Scarlet Letter
721 Words | 3 PagesHis guilt and shame destroy him, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Hawthorne describes Dimmesdale as a prominent and brilliant reverend when giving sermons because he understands living with sin. Dimmesdale’s successes with his sermons are inspired by his own sins and he can connect with the people more. A young women carrying her child speaks to Hester saying, “Ah but let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will always be in her heart” (206). The women holding the child shows compassion towards Hester, stating that she wants her child to be strong like her.
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
Reverend Dimmesdale In The Scarlett Letter
386 Words | 2 PagesThe process of growing in a character can be treacherous process. This process was demonstrated well by Reverend Dimmesdale in the novel, The Scarlett Letter. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s style sets up Dimmesdale demise impeccably, giving the reader a deep and insightful look at Dimmesdale. Hawthorne explains the destruction of Dimmesdale, which is due to committing adultery with Hester, with his continued exacerbating health and the letter A throughout the novel. Hawthorne continuously comments about Reverend Dimmesdale’s ailing health, leading the reader to assume that the sin is eating him up from inside.
Arthur Dimmesdale's Guilt Quotes
1158 Words | 5 PagesIn Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale commits a mortal sin by having an affair with a married woman, Hester Prynne. As a man of the cloth in Puritan society, Dimmesdale is expected to be the embodiment of the town’s values. He becomes captive to a self-imposed guilt that manifests from affair and his fear that he won’t meet the town’s high expectations of him. In an attempt to mitigate this guilt, Dimmesdale acts “piously” and accepts Chillingworth’s torture, causing him to suffer privately, unlike Hester who repented in the eyes of the townspeople. When Dimmesdale finally reveals his sin to the townspeople, he is able to free himself from his guilt.
The Scarlet Letter And The Handmaid's Tale, And When She Woke
976 Words | 4 PagesJust as Hillary Jordan’ main protagonist Hannah has been put into boxes her whole life, literature tends to think in boxes as well. Novels are put in different genre boxes and the characters are, through their character traits, in boxes as well. This thesis has three boxes as well, in this case called chapters. Within each chapter it will be tried to break these boxes open and discuss why not everything can be put in just one box and why society should start to think outside the box.
The Guilt Of Dimmesdale In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'
319 Words | 2 PagesErin 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).
What Are The Similarities Between The Crucible And The Scarlet Letter
992 Words | 4 PagesReverend Dimmesdale’s physical condition diminishes the longer he keeps his sin a secret. He feels so guilty, he tortures himself by fasting and whipping in addition to feeling like a hypocrite when his gives sermons. Reverend Dimmesdale expresses, “Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!” (Hawthorne 107).
The Scarlet Letter Dimmesdale's Transformation
523 Words | 3 PagesDimmesdale starts living with Chillingworth so the doctor can keep the feeble minister ‘healthy’; the doctor, reversely, tries to make Dimmesdale feel conflicted about his morals which leads to Dimmesdale obsessively whipping himself “...on his own shoulders” and“... fast[ing]...in order to purify [his] body… rigorously...until his knees trembled beneath him[self]...” (132). He is enveloped in his sin, and cannot escape it unless he tells the truth. In fact, Dimmesdale could not stop thinking about his sin which “...continued to give Mr. Dimmesdale a real existence [which] was the anguish in his inmost soul” (133).
How Hester Prynne Changes In Scarlet Letter
941 Words | 4 PagesWe are all sinners, no matter how hard we try to hide our faults, they always seem to come back, one way or another. Written in the 19th century, Nathaniel Hawthorne shows us Hester Prynne and how one sin can change her life completely. Hester Prynne changes a great deal throughout The Scarlet Letter. Through the view of the Puritans, Hester is an intense sinner; she has gone against the Puritan way of life committing the highest act of sin, adultery. For committing such a sinful act, Hester must wear the scarlet letter while also having to bear stares from those that gossip about her.
Arthur Dimmesdale's Moral Development In Scarlet Letter
978 Words | 4 Pages“(Hawthorne 109). His moral stage continues to be at stage 1 “Obedience and Punishment Orientation” because his selfishness still makes an overall reflection on his personality. He is more concerned about his own feelings than everyone around him opposed to his morality at the beginning of the novel. He expresses signs of jealousy because Pearl called out for him. Next, at the beginning of Chapter 18 after Hester has declared to Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her real husband and he becomes upset, eventually he forgives her and sees Chillingworth as the real sinner.
Chillingworth Character Analysis In Scarlet Letter
1531 Words | 7 PagesWhen faced with sin, a person should choose repentance with God’s mercy and grace. Jesus’ work on the cross provides hope, restoration, and liberty to those who accept its provisions. Similarly to Chillingworth and Dimmesdale, the individual chooses how God’s work will dictate his
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