Anjli Patel
Mrs. Reganato
Honors English II
11 October, 2014 Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter portrays characters whose internal conflicts are represented physically. The Puritan community attempts to suppress all sin in order to create an utopian society. They fail to realize one of the men they admire the most hides Dimmesdale experiences severe pain and torture both physically and mentally due to his secret. This internal agony is represented by his outward appearance as “he looked haggard and feeble” (Hawthorne 129). Throughout the novel, as the minister’s guilt intensifies, his physical condition worsens. He becomes increasingly sick and loses purpose to live as demonstrated by the “listlessness in his gait” (Hawthorne 129). His physical condition as well as internal torment eventually lead to his death. While Hester is still physically healthy, she loses her feminine nature. Due to the contempt and scorn she is forced to endure, Hester loses all tenderness and her face seems to have a “marble coldness” (Hawthorne 112). She was once described as beautiful and elegant but now “the attractiveness of her person had undergone a… change” (Hawthorne 112). …show more content…
Dimmesdale, who hides the emblem of his sin, is driven to the point of insanity as his guilt continues to increase. He attempts to sooth his remorse by holding “vigils… night after night, sometimes in utter darkness” in which he experiences “constant introspection wherewith he tortured... himself” (Hawthorne 99-100). During the daytime, the minister continues with his daily tasks and offers religious enlightenment to the townspeople. He, however, must hide his true identity and suppress his desire to confess his sin. But during the night, Dimmesdale deals with the repercussions of his sin and is forced to acknowledge his guilt. He is alone and can no longer hide from his
Mrs. Reganato
Honors English II
11 October, 2014 Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter portrays characters whose internal conflicts are represented physically. The Puritan community attempts to suppress all sin in order to create an utopian society. They fail to realize one of the men they admire the most hides Dimmesdale experiences severe pain and torture both physically and mentally due to his secret. This internal agony is represented by his outward appearance as “he looked haggard and feeble” (Hawthorne 129). Throughout the novel, as the minister’s guilt intensifies, his physical condition worsens. He becomes increasingly sick and loses purpose to live as demonstrated by the “listlessness in his gait” (Hawthorne 129). His physical condition as well as internal torment eventually lead to his death. While Hester is still physically healthy, she loses her feminine nature. Due to the contempt and scorn she is forced to endure, Hester loses all tenderness and her face seems to have a “marble coldness” (Hawthorne 112). She was once described as beautiful and elegant but now “the attractiveness of her person had undergone a… change” (Hawthorne 112). …show more content…
Dimmesdale, who hides the emblem of his sin, is driven to the point of insanity as his guilt continues to increase. He attempts to sooth his remorse by holding “vigils… night after night, sometimes in utter darkness” in which he experiences “constant introspection wherewith he tortured... himself” (Hawthorne 99-100). During the daytime, the minister continues with his daily tasks and offers religious enlightenment to the townspeople. He, however, must hide his true identity and suppress his desire to confess his sin. But during the night, Dimmesdale deals with the repercussions of his sin and is forced to acknowledge his guilt. He is alone and can no longer hide from his