ipl-logo

Pearl And Reverend Dimmesdale In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter

1041 Words5 Pages

The relationship between Pearl and Reverend Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter is one that both intrigues the reader and keeps them wanting to find out more. At the beginning of the story nothing is very clear about Pearl’s father but as you read on there are many cues that lead you to Reverend Dimmesdale, the pastor of the church where Pearl’s mother, Hester Prynne, was a member. Through all the twists and turns there are a few things that stick out in the readers mind such as the progression of their relationship, the behavior and psychology of Pearl and how the novel could be seen as a story almost all about Pearl. The progression starts during the third chapter of the novel when Hester and her young child are on the scaffold to be publicly shamed for her adultery. When Dimmesdale is called upon to speak and try to urge Hester to reveal her fellow sinner Pearl is drawn to him and reaches out towards his voice. The reader is led to believe here that this stretch towards the Reverend is just due to his automatic appeal to anyone while he is speaking. …show more content…

Hester went to plead that the officials of the town leave Pearl in her care and not take her away to be raised by any one else. When it seems that Hester is losing this battle she asks Dimmesdale to speak in her defense which he does quite passionately. This desire to protect the mother and daughter bond of Hester and Pearl is what seems to draw Pearl to approach Dimmesdale and take “his hand in the grasp of both her own…” and lay “her cheek against it; a caress so tender…” (The Scarlet Letter, Chapter VIII) Dimmesdale’s defense and Pearl’s reaction are two cues that lead the reader to begin seeing the truth of who Pearl’s father

Show More
Related

Rhetorical Devices Used In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

1091 Words | 5 Pages

This interaction between infant Pearl and Dimmesdale is significant because Pearl is described as a child who only shows affection towards her family (Hester). As Pearl ages, many Puritans conspire to separate her from her mother. Upon hearing this, Hester visits the governor’s hall to try and persuade him to allow Pearl to remain with her. Hester is ultimately allowed to keep Pearl, not because of her words, but because of the words spoken by Dimmesdale, who convinces Governor Bellingham and Reverend John Wilson. Afterwards, Pearl “stole softly towards him, and, taking his hand in the grasp of both her own, laid her cheek against it” (79).

Read More

Arthur Dimmesdale Quotes

551 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter

1227 Words | 5 Pages

Dimmesdale’s True Colors Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, also the father of Hester’s child, showed prominent parts of his character throughout the story. The first trait the reader becomes aware of is Dimmesdale’s cowardice. He has no intentions of revealing his sin to the public, due to how highly he is seen in the community’s eyes. Remorse, or guilt, is another term that can be associated with Dimmesdale, growing increasingly more prominent as the novel goes on. Cowardice, a lacking of bravery when facing danger, was a trait that Dimmesdale carried.

Read More

Comparing Hester And Dimmesdale In The Scarlett Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

616 Words | 3 Pages

In the book The Scarlet Letter, Hester and Dimmesdale both have sinned and they both were about of it. There are two people to make a child so it's not just Hester's fault at all. She saves Dimmesdale by not telling anyone who the father of Pearl is, and for that Dimmesdale he has to leave with knowing the father of Pearl is himself, and having no one knowing that it is him. Hester is dealing with the sin, she made with Dimmesdale, well because she knows the truth about everything and everyone knows what she has done. She wants the towns people to know what she has been.

Read More

How Does The Pearl Change In The Scarlet Letter

765 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More

What Does Pearl Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

849 Words | 4 Pages

One of the most multifaceted, elaborate, and symbolic characters in The Scarlet Letter is Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Although she is fairly young during the majority of this novel, she possesses the unique ability to provoke the adult characters in the book. She asks them pointed questions and draws their attention to the repudiated or disregarded truths of the adult world. This typically would be unusual behavior for a child her age, but she continually acts abnormal throughout the majority of The Scarlet Letter. Her symbolism catches the attention of the reader and characters as well.

Read More

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

319 Words | 2 Pages

By Dimmesdale's hand always on his chest, everyone makes the connection that he is the father of Pearl because of the Scarlet Letter on Hester’s

Read More

Scarlet Letter Compared To Today

516 Words | 3 Pages

Dimmesdale, knowing that he is the father of Pearl, keeps it a secret for a very long time. Dimmesdale had burned an “A” on his chest. In the book he states “At last… I stand upon where, seven years since, I should have stood; here, with this woman, whose arm… sustains me, at this dreadful moment, from grovelling down upon my face! Lo, the scarlet letter which Hester wears! … it hath cast a lurid gleam of awe and horrible repugnance round about her.

Read More

The Scarlet Letter Dimmesdale's Transformation

523 Words | 3 Pages

Many characters from The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, changed throughout the progression of the novel, — including Chillingworth, Hester, and even Pearl herself. No character, however, has changed as much as Dimmesdale has. Towards the beginning of the novel, Dimmesdale tries to ignore his sinful actions. Near the middle of the book, the clergyman, with the ‘help’ of Chillingworth, is able to realize his wrongdoings, and starts obsessively thinking of those wrongdoings. Around the end of the novel, with the help of the forest’s freedom, is able to finally repent correctly for his sin.

Read More

Summary Of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

1792 Words | 8 Pages

He sees “diabolic shapes that grinned and mocked at the pale minister, and beckoned him away with them” (136), and “Hester Prynne, leading along little Pearl in her scarlet garb, and pointing her forefinger, first at the scarlet letter on her bosom, and then at the clergyman’s own breast.” (137). His hallucinations mirror what the guilt has done to his troubled being—it has haunted him in frightening ways, and rendered him tortured by his own self, physically and mentally. He had transformed from a lively, eloquent, young minister into a ghastly, weak slave of his mind; "The only truth that continued to give Mr. Dimmesdale

Read More

Dimmesdale In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

556 Words | 3 Pages

Dimmesdale starts to see the ramification of holding in his sin and starts to feel culpable when seeing Hester take the blame for something they both did. In the beginning of the novel, Hester and Dimmesdale both had committed adultery, which is against the Puritans belief of sin. Hester is on the scaffold refusing to reveal the father of her child to the people, in order to save Dimmesdale’s reputation as a preacher. As punishment for the sin, Hester had been sentenced three hours on the scaffold and must always wear the scarlet letter. Since nobody knows that Dimmesdale also committed the sin, he is delegated to reveal Pearl’s father from Hester, but she refuses to reveal it.

Read More

Who Is Pearl In The Scarlet Letter

562 Words | 3 Pages

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

Read More

Scarlet Letter Quotes

927 Words | 4 Pages

Dimmesdale is considered “a learned and pious minister of the word” (Hawthorne 165) by the puritan community throughout the vast majority of this book. He, nevertheless, committed adultery with Hester and is therefore, as sinful as Hester in this situation. Through his human tendencies, Dimmesdale caused Hester to have Pearl, a daughter that was considered “freakish” and “elvish” (Hawthorne 66) by the Puritan people. Hawthorne agrees when he writes, “It was as if an evil spirit possessed the child and had just then peeped forth in mockery.”

Read More

Analysis Of Hester Prynne: A Symbol Of Sin

1200 Words | 5 Pages

Dimmesdale, the father of Pearl, remains unknown until the end of the book. Hester refuses to share the identity of the father with the church because she is attempting to protect a reputation. Dimmesdale, himself questions her as to who the father is. When she does not answer, Dimmesdale responds with the following words: “Wondorous strength and generosity of a woman’s heart! She will not speak!”

Read More

Hester In The Scarlett Letter

824 Words | 4 Pages

Hester is the protagonist of The Scarlet Letter she does not receive the same treatment as Mr.Dimmesdale. Since Dimmesdale is a young and handsome preacher he is not talked badly about after he confessed. Pearl was 7 years old when people started to destigmatize the scarlet letter Hester wore daily on her chest. Hester went through 7 years of tyranny from the town before people when they started to realize she was an outstanding person. Dimmesdale stood aside watching idly by as he saw the torment that was placed upon Hester, He finally took a stand and helped her in his last preach.

Read More

More about Pearl And Reverend Dimmesdale In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter

Related Topics

Open Document