Arthur Dimmesdale In The Crucible

Question 1:
Arthur Dimmesdale’s guilt controlled the rest of his life throughout his remaining years of life; He would have been unable to escape society and flee to Europe because he had not been ostracized from it, unlike Hester. Dimmesdale is characterized by being cowardly, secretly suffering from his guilt and dying by the hands of Chillingworth. While some may state that Dimmesdale was a strong character because he was able to carry his guilt for seven years, he is a very weak, cowardly character who could not confess his sin against the Puritan society. Dimmesdale is not a strong character because he refuses to be punished fairly by the Puritan society. Instead he takes matters in to his own hands when he whips himself. The narrator expresses Dimmesdale’s routine by saying: “In Mr. Dimmesdale 's secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge.” (136). These actions show that Dimmesdale had no control over his own being, and the guilt was taking over his body. He hides his secret from society, which shows that he is not a strong character.
Dimmesdale’s actions are not rational, and …show more content…
The irony that a person devoted to God and sworn to celibacy would choose to break the laws set out by God and by society. In keeping with society, Dimmesdale held his secret until his untimely death, so that he would not have any cruel repercussions. In one last act of glory, Dimmesdale “he tore away the ministerial band from his chest” (242), revealing his very own scarlet letter, evidence that he was the mystery adulterer. Dimmesdale’s actions in the novel are indicative of his role in society. He continues to act as a minister, but secretly suffers in his heart because of his grave sin. The sense of conformity in the Puritan society was so strong that it forced Dimmesdale to become weak and eventually abandon his efforts to keep his sinful