Christina Georgina Rossetti, an impeccable English poet from the 1840s, depicts, “God strengthen me to bear myself;/ That heaviest weight of all to bear,/ Inalienable weight of care” (“Who Shall Deliver Me” 1-3). God provides His followers with the courage to give their sins to Him. God forgives all iniquities, regardless of how painful circumstance may be. Arthur Dimmesdale, a Puritan minister, in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, does not rely on God to absolve the mistakes he commits, but rather he takes it upon himself to quell his own wrongs. Instead of being forthright and acknowledging his faults, Reverend Dimmesdale, out of fear to uphold a holy reputation, keeps his sins and self-confession a secret, resulting in self-harm.
…show more content…
Dimmesdale covers up his scared heart in an effort to suppress his transgressions that are deteriorating his soul. He finds himself becoming physically and spiritually sick, because it is taking every ounce of his body to keep his sins a secret. “About this period, however the health of Mr. Dimmesdale had evidently begun to fail” (Hawthorne 82). Dimmesdale’s interior pain continues frequently. He protects his heart with his hand, and refuses to expose his sins. In an effort to further point out the sin of the Reverend, Pearl, the wise daughter of Dimmesdale declares, “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!” (Hawthorne 122). Dimmesdale has a difficulties recognizing his sin. He can not bare to depart with his immorality, because the guilt that will overcome him will be to overwhelming toward his wellbeing. Dimmesdale becomes confined in his sin and has no way to relinquish his bottled up …show more content…
In an act to advocate his own sin, Dimmesdale chastises himself in crude and violent ways. “In Mr. Dimmesdale’s secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge” (Hawthorne 99). Beating himself, is only one of the many ways Dimmesdale abuses himself in response to his sin. He believed that if his blood was shed it would represent the sacrifice needed for the repentance for his faults. “ It was his custom, too, as it has been that of many other pious Puritans, to fast…” (Hawthorne 99). Dimmesdale did not want to endure the wrath of others peoples justification. He took it upon himself to retributed his own sin, putting himself in a state of malaise. He believed this would validate all the mistakes he had committed. All of Dimmesdale's, pain and punishment could have all been avoided if he had only confessed his wrongdoings sooner. Redemption of sin should be meaningful and prevalent to avoid internal destruction. Dimmesdale half-heartedly confessed his sins and is never truly redeemed.
Support: God told Dimmesdale to confess (Hawthorne 173). GO BACK AND GET QUOTE FROM BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Support: “I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules” (ESV, Dan
Dimmesdale covers up his scared heart in an effort to suppress his transgressions that are deteriorating his soul. He finds himself becoming physically and spiritually sick, because it is taking every ounce of his body to keep his sins a secret. “About this period, however the health of Mr. Dimmesdale had evidently begun to fail” (Hawthorne 82). Dimmesdale’s interior pain continues frequently. He protects his heart with his hand, and refuses to expose his sins. In an effort to further point out the sin of the Reverend, Pearl, the wise daughter of Dimmesdale declares, “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!” (Hawthorne 122). Dimmesdale has a difficulties recognizing his sin. He can not bare to depart with his immorality, because the guilt that will overcome him will be to overwhelming toward his wellbeing. Dimmesdale becomes confined in his sin and has no way to relinquish his bottled up …show more content…
In an act to advocate his own sin, Dimmesdale chastises himself in crude and violent ways. “In Mr. Dimmesdale’s secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge” (Hawthorne 99). Beating himself, is only one of the many ways Dimmesdale abuses himself in response to his sin. He believed that if his blood was shed it would represent the sacrifice needed for the repentance for his faults. “ It was his custom, too, as it has been that of many other pious Puritans, to fast…” (Hawthorne 99). Dimmesdale did not want to endure the wrath of others peoples justification. He took it upon himself to retributed his own sin, putting himself in a state of malaise. He believed this would validate all the mistakes he had committed. All of Dimmesdale's, pain and punishment could have all been avoided if he had only confessed his wrongdoings sooner. Redemption of sin should be meaningful and prevalent to avoid internal destruction. Dimmesdale half-heartedly confessed his sins and is never truly redeemed.
Support: God told Dimmesdale to confess (Hawthorne 173). GO BACK AND GET QUOTE FROM BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Support: “I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules” (ESV, Dan