Consequently, Arthur Dimmesdale is the cause of Hester Prynne's shame for he is the man whom Hester loves. No one knows he is the father of Pearl, Hester won't say and he isn't strong enough to speak up. He struggles with this knowledge that Hester is being punished and not him. The only truth that continued to give Mr. Dimmesdale a real existence on this earth was the anguish in his inmost soul, and the undissembled expression of it in his aspect, (Hawthorne 142). Being a minister of God the citizens look up to him, and he feels guilty about his hidden sin.
In 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.
Despite 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….”
This was the first part in the book when Dimmesdale went on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl. When all three of them were on the scaffold Pearl was described as “Pearl she a symbol, and the connecting link between the two”(139). When they were on the scaffold pearl connected Hester and Dimmesdale. As soon as Pearl held hands with both of them she felt as if she was no longer a product of sin because of Hester and Dimemsdasles actions. When the townspeople saw this they thought that Pearl was a magical human that brought together two people in a tough time.
However, in reality, Hester's infamy was strengthening her, while Dimmesdale’s self-humiliation was weakening him. Although it may seem that his hesitance towards confessing his sin was killing him, it can be seen as the only thing keeping him alive. Hester may have been tormented by her mistake but she ended up being
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).
Pearl’s estranged behavior is believed to be a result of the way she was conceived through sin, which is just another example of how Pearl is the physical representation and constant reminder of Hester’s sin. Towards the end of the book, Pearl is finally allowed to be a real human being once Dimmesdale confesses his sin. In Chapter 23, Hawthorne writes, “The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy…” (Hawthorne 142).
Truly, Pearl is an important character in the work and is both the cause of Hester’s salvation and Dimmesdale’s public confession. Pearl allows her mother to live her life freely and prompts Dimmesdale to be true to his family. She acts as the moderator in both of their lives giving them peace and hope while also making them realize reality. From three months old to adulthood, she had an effect on their lives that outweighs that of any other person. Children may be young and innocent, but they are a foundation for many people in times of
From Pearl to Dimmesdale, everyone could find a deeper portrayal of a character to relate to. In the last couple chapters, we see a lot of death. After Dimmesdale reveals his association with Hester and Pearl, he dies in Hester’s arms, and soon after, Chillingworth passes away and leaves Pearl with a hefty inheritance. Lastly, Hester retires to her old run-down cottage to live the rest of her life with her scarlet letter, helping the women in the community. This reveals the death of the letters stigma, giving Hester her life back.
When she sees Dimmesdale repeatedly placing his hand over his heart, she asks her mother why he does that. Every time she asks, Hester is reminded of Dimmesdale and how their sin keeps them apart. Whenever Pearl asks about the letter that Hester wears, she is reminded of the reason she has to wear, even if she won’t tell Pearl the real
Dimmesdale and Hester have a conversation but he confronts her saying that the child is her responsibility and not his. In the text is says, “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 hid a guilty heart through life. ”(Hawthorne, 63) Dimmesdale refuses to be responsible for his actions. As a pastor, he is not allowed to sin. Admitting to Pearl being his daughter would be a sin.
The bible said “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Hester and Dimmesdale both fell short of the glory of God but, that does not mean they should BE executed or punished for their sins any longer. They both endured a lot of suffering for their sins and did not deserve any more, they both confessed and took responsibility for it. They are forgiven. For example, In The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne wrote, “Ah, but let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart.” The consequences of her actions will show their face to remind her of what happened, especially Pearl’s birth, it acts as a charitable mistake that they will always have bearing down on them.
It is very clear that Hester’s punishment was not nearly as harsh as it should have been. We must follow the word of God, and punish her in the eyes of our Lord. It is also indispensable that the child be taken from Hester, and put into the arms of a fit mother figure. The daughter will have another chance at an unadulterated life, while actions are taken to deal with the brutal sinner. A fit punishment for a sin such as this should certainly be death.
She is considered an unfit mother for so undisciplined a child. Since Pearl is the source of her happiness as well as her torment, Hester is determined to keep her. Though Hester is shunned from the society and is a single mother, she still feels that she can do a good job of raising Pearl. She demands Dimmesdale to intercede for her and indicated that she will do anything to keep Pearl.”Speak thou for me…
“The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers” (Hawthorne 180). The lessons learned from Hester’s experience with the letter and her ongoing compassion inspired Dimmesdale to confess his guilt in the end. Hester was always there for anyone who needed her
