Differences And Similarities Between Arthur Dimmesdale And John Proctor

Empty Hearts
Both Arthur Dimmesdale and John Proctor are presented as respectable, just men who also hide their own personal scandals and emotions from the rest of the world. Arthur Dimmesdale, the minister, is clearly destroying himself from the inside out for his ignominy as he lives a lie while Hester Prynne shoulders the burden of public shaming for both of them. His health and emotional state wither, but he cannot bring himself to reveal the truth about his affair with Hester out of fear until it is much too late to save his soul from his suffering. John Proctor, while not a significant figure of the church remained a large figure of his community, and as a Puritan his name was of great importance in his eligibility for salvation as well

Due to the fact that he restrains his emotions so painstakingly in favor of religion, he frequently refers to himself in a self-deprecating manner when alone and even to the point of inflicting physical pain upon himself as he wallows in his internal guilt of dodging the consequences of his affair with Hester Prynne. After Chillingworth is appointed as Dimmesdale’s medical adviser to observe his declining health, Chillingworth begins to start questioning Dimmesdale as to why he refuses medicine and treatment. Chillingworth then goes on to describe his view of Dimmesdale, as one who “did feel the occasional relief of looking at the universe through the medium of another kind of intellect” (Hawthorne 102), therefore enjoying the freedom to think in other ways apart from the church. Alone, this observation already raises a question of how a minister so religiously inclined could possibly feel trapped within the church’s mindset. It becomes reasonable to consider if Dimmesdale actually knows who he is and if he really feels at ease giving everything to the church along with the burden of a sin hidden from the light of

Following his brief sense of freedom, Dimmesdale also feels that “the air was too fresh and chill to be long breathed” and he then “withdrew again within the limits of what their church defined as orthodox” (Hawthorne 102). The inner conflict within Dimmesdale as to what he truly believes in acts as a valuable example towards the muffling of one’s emotions, for Dimmesdale is indecisive as he ties himself to being a dedicated minister above even his own thinking. This see-saw of loyalty exposes that Dimmesdale also lives something akin to a double life, growing more and more withdrawn as the days go on without receiving either proper punishment for his affair or a clear sense of security that he truly belongs in the church. He has created an inimical attitude towards himself out of shame and confusion, deeply rooted in his mind and