Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale's Sickness In The Scarlet Letter

The Miserable Minister “Being in a pitiable state of distress or unhappiness (as from want or shame)” (Miserable Definition). Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is in an extreme state of distress and unhappiness. This miserable state can be traced back to his shame from his romantic encounter with Ms. Hester Prynne. Dimmesdale eventually becomes physically and mentally sick from his shame and guilt. This essay will use a combination of psychoanalytical and ecocritical lenses to analyze Dimmesdale’s sickness in The Scarlet Letter, leading up to his death. In the beginning of Dimmesdale’s sickness, the reverend is seen constantly holding his hand on his chest, which eventually causes Pearl to connect his chest grasping to Hester’s “A” (Hawthorne, …show more content…
One day Chillingworth brings in a dark colored plant (Hawthorne, 128). Dimmesdale questions where Chillingworth came across such a plant and he states, “I found them on a grave which bore no tombstone, nor other memorial of the dead man, save these ugly weeds that have taken upon themselves to keep him in remembrance. They grew out of his heart and typify, it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime” (Hawthorne, 129). Chillingworth is implementing a type of psychological attack to cause Dimmesdale to feel guilty, and confess to Chillingworth his secrets. Chillingworth is doing this not only to hear Dimmesdale’s confession, but as a part of his revenge on Dimmesdale. Chillingworth never loved Hester, but one can infer he is using his revenge to justify not loving Hester. Revenge could also be a method of punishing Hester, because though they were not in love, she still cheated. Through this psychological attack, Chillingworth is suggesting that if Dimmesdale does not confess his sin, he will be buried without tombstone, therefore buried without repentance. Due to this lack of repentance, Dimmesdale wonders whether or not grass will grow on his grave, he believes he will pollute the land. This idea of sin polluting the land comes from the divine right, the belief that God appoints a …show more content…
Dimmesdale grows paler and skinnier. (look up citation) This physical change can be due to the “treatments” Chillingworth is providing for Dimmesdale i.e. bleeding him out, etc. Or, this physical change can be more deeply rooted to Dimmesdale’s mental state. As Dimmesdale deteriorates further, his sermons get more powerful (Strang-wolf, np). The powerful sermons could be linked to Dimmesdale’s paling skin. According to the “HuffPost”, the devil is described/seen as dark-skinned (Banks, np). While Dimmesdale is becoming phenomenal at writing and delivering powerful sermons, he is becoming paler. This correlation is relating Dimmesdale’s increase in powerful sermons, to his decrease in skin pigment because he is straying farther from the devil. Dimmesdale’s complexion could also be a result of his self harm. The minister may be starving himself, causing his skin to become paler, as a way of repenting his sin. Another idea has to do with the sun and how it embraces Pearl. When in the woods on the way to meet Dimmesdale, Pearl tells Hester the sun does not love her, and that it runs away from the scarlet letter (Hawthorne, 175). Dimmesdale is constantly outside, going to and fro delivering sermons and performing his religious duties. There is no reason the sun should not be tanning his pale skin, unless the sun too is running from him! The reason the sun embraces Pearl is