Arthur Dimmesdale
In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Arthur Dimmesdale has an affair with Hester Prynne. While Hester Prynne is subject to a lifetime of ridicule, Dimmesdale escapes punishment. His lack of punishment comes at a price. Dimmesdale’s inability to confess his sin influenced his morale, profession, and overall health. Arthur Dimmesdale’s guilt affected his morale. He became obsessed with his eternal place of rest. His guilt also influenced his conversations with those around him. For example, Dimmesdale crossed paths with an elderly widow from the church. He failed to “recall. . .scripture” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 150). Arthur’s guilt affected “each breath of emotion, and his every thought” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 137). His guilt ate away at his soul. Dimmesdale’s constant guilt prohibited him from being himself. …show more content…
Dimmesdale, a minister, became self-conscious about his ministry. “What can a [my] ruined soul. . . effect towards the redemption of other souls?” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 131). Dimmesdale found it difficult to pretend everything was well. For example, Dimmesdale encountered one of his deacons. He barely “refrained from uttering certain blasphemous suggestions” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 149). Dimmesdale defended Hester Prynne during her ignominy. While the elder minister and governor wanted Hester’s baby taken away from her, Dimmesdale argued against taking Pearl away from Hester. “There is truth in what she says. . . God gave her the child, and gave her, too, an instinctive knowledge of its nature and requirements” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 78). Dimmesdale was not fulfilling his job description due to his
In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Arthur Dimmesdale has an affair with Hester Prynne. While Hester Prynne is subject to a lifetime of ridicule, Dimmesdale escapes punishment. His lack of punishment comes at a price. Dimmesdale’s inability to confess his sin influenced his morale, profession, and overall health. Arthur Dimmesdale’s guilt affected his morale. He became obsessed with his eternal place of rest. His guilt also influenced his conversations with those around him. For example, Dimmesdale crossed paths with an elderly widow from the church. He failed to “recall. . .scripture” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 150). Arthur’s guilt affected “each breath of emotion, and his every thought” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 137). His guilt ate away at his soul. Dimmesdale’s constant guilt prohibited him from being himself. …show more content…
Dimmesdale, a minister, became self-conscious about his ministry. “What can a [my] ruined soul. . . effect towards the redemption of other souls?” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 131). Dimmesdale found it difficult to pretend everything was well. For example, Dimmesdale encountered one of his deacons. He barely “refrained from uttering certain blasphemous suggestions” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 149). Dimmesdale defended Hester Prynne during her ignominy. While the elder minister and governor wanted Hester’s baby taken away from her, Dimmesdale argued against taking Pearl away from Hester. “There is truth in what she says. . . God gave her the child, and gave her, too, an instinctive knowledge of its nature and requirements” (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 78). Dimmesdale was not fulfilling his job description due to his