Suffering comes in many forms, for some it’s ignominy as a result of a sin, growing up as an outcast of society, writing a paper at three in the morning, or for others it’s having a scarlet letter burned into your chest. Of the most prominent characters in The Scarlet Letter, Arthur Dimmesdale, suffered the most both physically and mentally throughout a vast majority of the book. He suffered as a result of the infamous scarlet letter that burned itself into his chest. He not only hurt himself externally, but he was also internally at war with himself. He also struggled because he wanted to be with Hester and maintain his status in the Puritan society as a clergyman.
Dimmesdale has been suffering with the scarlet letter for a long time, the first instance where he is having chest problems occurs when Hester’s custody over Pearl was in question, and Dimmesdale was asked to speak on behalf of Hester. Of course, he stepped forward to assist her but he “came forward, pale, and holding his hand over his heart” (Hawthorne 100). From this it is clear that Dimmesdale’s habit of holding his hand over his chest started very early on- even before he was in Chillingworth’s grasp. This habit must have lasted more than seven years.
It is also shown, even at the end of the book where Dimmesdale is standing, weak, and on the scaffold for all to see with
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When taking a look at the quote “The Devil knew it [the scarlet letter] well, and fretted it continually with the touch of his burning finger!” there are two meanings of the word fretted. In this context it wouldn’t make sense to say that the Devil worried about the scarlet letter “with the touch of his burning finger”, but much rather he caused it by rubbing at it “continually with the touch of his burning finger” (Hawthorne 221). This also explains how the Devil knew the scarlet letter well, he caused