Dimmesdales Guilt and Internal Struggle in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

In Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, Mr. Dimmesdales greatest worship is that the townspeople will find out about his sin of adultery with Hester Prynne. Mr. Dimmesdale fears that his soul could not deal out the shame of such a disclosure, as he is an important moral figure in society. However, in not confessing his sin to the man, he suffers through the evil of his sin, a pain which is exacerbated by the tortures of Roger Chillingworth. Though he consistently chooses guilt over shame, Mr. Dimmesdale goes through a oft to a greater extent painful experience than Hester, who endured the public shame of the scarlet letter. Mr. Dimmesdales guilt is much(prenominal) more damaging to his soul than any shame that he might have endured. When the reader prototypal meets Roger Chillingworth standing watching Hester on the support, he says that he wishes the father could be on the scaffold with her. It irks me, nevertheless, that the partner of her iniquity should not, at least, stand on the scaffold by her side (46). At this point, Chillingworth wishes that Mr. Dimmesdale was also receiving the soma of shame Hester is being put through. Throughout the first few chapters of the novel, however, Chillingworths motives become more and more malicious. By the time Chillingworth meets Hester in her prison cell, he has decided to go after Mr. Dimmesdales soul. Chillingworth turns to this goal because Mr. Dimmesdale did not endure Hesters shame on the scaffold. Had Mr. Dimmesdale chosen to reveal himself at the time of Hesters shame, he would not have had to endure the pain of Roger Chillingworths tortures of his soul.When Mr. Dimmesdale finally confesses to the townspeople in the remainder hour of his life, he reveals what many saw to be a red A on his chest. Whether the letter was carved by him in an act of self-mutilation, if it was tho a figment of his guilt-ridden imagination, of if it was indeed created by Chillingworths torture, it is a symbol of the gui lt that Mr. Dimmesdale endured. While it may seem like a unequal mockery of Hesters letter, which was visible to everyone, Mr. Dimmesdales caused him much more pain than Hesters caused her. Over time, Hesters letter came to be accepted by the townspeople, and one time Hester had been accepted there was discussion of allowing her to remove it. In contrast, Mr. Dimmesdales letter was not visible to the public, though it caused him much pain.Dimmesdales Guilt and Internal Struggle in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter essays research papersIn Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, Mr. Dimmesdales greatest fear is that the townspeople will find out about his sin of adultery with Hester Prynne. Mr. Dimmesdale fears that his soul could not take the shame of such a disclosure, as he is an important moral figure in society. However, in not confessing his sin to the public, he suffers through the guilt of his sin, a pain which is exacerbated by the tortures of Roger Chillingworth. Though h e consistently chooses guilt over shame, Mr. Dimmesdale goes through a much more painful experience than Hester, who endured the public shame of the scarlet letter. Mr. Dimmesdales guilt is much more damaging to his soul than any shame that he might have endured. When the reader first meets Roger Chillingworth standing watching Hester on the scaffold, he says that he wishes the father could be on the scaffold with her. It irks me, nevertheless, that the partner of her iniquity should not, at least, stand on the scaffold by her side (46). At this point, Chillingworth wishes that Mr. Dimmesdale was also receiving the sort of shame Hester is being put through. Throughout the first few chapters of the novel, however, Chillingworths motives become more and more malicious. By the time Chillingworth meets Hester in her prison cell, he has decided to go after Mr. Dimmesdales soul. Chillingworth turns to this goal because Mr. Dimmesdale did not endure Hesters shame on the scaffold. Had Mr. D immesdale chosen to reveal himself at the time of Hesters shame, he would not have had to endure the pain of Roger Chillingworths tortures of his soul.When Mr. Dimmesdale finally confesses to the townspeople in the last hour of his life, he reveals what many saw to be a red A on his chest. Whether the letter was carved by him in an act of self-mutilation, if it was merely a figment of his guilt-ridden imagination, of if it was indeed created by Chillingworths torture, it is a symbol of the guilt that Mr. Dimmesdale endured. While it may seem like a poor mockery of Hesters letter, which was visible to everyone, Mr. Dimmesdales caused him much more pain than Hesters caused her. Over time, Hesters letter came to be accepted by the townspeople, and once Hester had been accepted there was discussion of allowing her to remove it. In contrast, Mr. Dimmesdales letter was not visible to the public, though it caused him much pain.