The Sin Of Arthur Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

All throughout history sin has had consequences. Because of Adam and Eve’s fall they were removed from the Garden of Eden. Richard Nixon was forced to resign his presidency due to his involvement in the Watergate Scandal. In his fictional masterpiece The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne digs into some of the catastrophic consequences of hidden sin. Rev. Dimmesdale is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s example of sin and how concealing it will have consequences. In this essay I will establish that Arthur Dimmesdale was a godly man that made one mistake altering his existence perpetually. First, Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays Arthur as a godly man that loved his God, loved his congregation, and longed to do what was right. Because Arthur loved his God “It

and surely thou workest good among them.”(222). His noble deeds indicate his affection for his congregation. Arthur yearned to confess his sin to his congregation. The author articulates this on page 163 by stating, “He longed to speak out from his pulpit and tell the people what he was.”(163). These characteristics of Arthur Dimmesdale express that he was a godly man. Next, Arthur Dimmesdale made one mistake—committing adultery with Hester Prynne. After he sinned he concealed his sin and lived a lie. The book states “In a single instance he [Arthur] transgressed one of the most sacred of them [Puritan laws] all”(233) indicating that Arthur sinned with Hester Prynne. After he sinned with Hester he did his best to conceal his sin. In the beginning of the book he had the opportunity to confess his part in the making of the baby, but he stood instead “Leaning over the balcony”(76). Because of his concealed sin he lived a lie. He would get up on his pulpit and would utter “I...am utterly a pollution and a lie”(164). While Mr. Dimmesdale’s one mistake was a shameful one he could have reconciled himself by confessing his sin to the

His health deteriorated because of his sin. On page 138 it declares, “With every successive sabbath his cheek was paler and thinner, and his voice more tremulous than before.”(138). Because of his failing health he ended up dying “The final word came forth with the minister’s expiring breath.”(298). He also lived with his guilt. Arthur hated the guilt that came with his sin. When Hester asked if he was at peace since the incident happened he asseverated “‘None!-nothing but despair!’ He answered. ‘What else could I look for, being what I am and leading such a life as mine?… Hester I am most miserable!’”(222). Arthur wanted to confess his sin but felt that the disappointment that the people would express would crush him. He tells Roger Chillingworth “’Perchance,’ says Mr. Dimmesdale ‘He earnestly desired too but could not’”(149). His relationships with himself and others changed. The book states “Therefore above all else he loathed his miserable self.”(165) meaning that his relationship with himself changed. Also his relationships with others changed. He “had rendered him[self] suspicious of all