'Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter'

Oftentimes, an event that seems and feels negligible can have an immense impact on a person’s psyche and physical actions. A passage from chapter 20 of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne presents this phenomenon through Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. The passage shows Dimmesdale’s change from a weak, broken man to one with boundless energy as well as his change of view on life through symbolism. The change in Dimmesdale is seen immediately after he exits the forest, for he is described as having “unaccustomed physical energy” (Hawthorne, 188). Recall chapter 16, when he is first seen in the forest by Hester, who describes him as listless as well as having no desire to do anything. Now he has an “unaccustomed” energy, which is described as such to convey the fact that he is not used to it. In the passage, the reader sees that he “leaped”, “climbed”, “plunged”, and “overcame” (Hawthorne, 188)

When Dimmesdale exited the forest after his meeting with Hester the path “seemed wilder, more uncouth, with its rude, natural obstacles, and less trodden by the foot man” (Hawthorne, 188). It may seem as if Hawthorne is vividly describing the forest with the use of imagery as he has done throughout the book; however, he uses the path as a symbol for Dimmesdale’s life. Upon entering two days prior, it is seen as mild, clear, and stepped on by many, such as Dimmesdale’s life where rarely anything exciting occurs and he can never say what he really wants to because he has to uphold his image to all the followers of the church. When he exits though it is “wilder”, “less trodden”, and “uncouth” (Hawthorne, 188). It is described as such because his outlook on life has shifted after he and Hester concocted a plan to run off together. His life is now “wilder” and will present “natural obstacles” as he proceeds through