Guilt, shame, and penitence are just a few of the emotions that are often portrayed in the Scarlet Letter. Arthur Dimmesdale is a very respected minister of a 17th century community. He falls in love with Hester and commits adultery. Although Hester takes her punishment for her sins Dimmesdale hides because he doesn't want to ruin his reputation and his saintly image. Dimmesdale also feels bad about how Hester is treated through the community and how he’s making her go thru all this alone even though he also sinned. Dimmesdale isn't ignorant but very well educated as Hawthorne states “…Rev. Mr. Dimmesdale; a young clergyman who had come from one of the great English universities, bringing all the learning of the age into our wild forestland.
