Take it Like a Man As people age and grow, they learn new ideas and outlooks on life that allow them to grow as a person. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale changes and grows throughout the novel. He is weighed down by the sin of adultery that he has committed, and the pain of sin that Dimmesdale faces causes him to realize that he has power to change his situation. Arthur Dimmesdale explores different ways he can handle his sin and suffering, allowing him to evolve from believing that God controls every aspect of his life, to understanding that he has free will over his life. In the beginning of the novel, Reverend Dimmesdale relies on others to make difficult decisions and to sculpt his life.
…show more content…
Dimmesdale wants to do, but he is too afraid of the consequences he may face. He is unsure if he sould confess and his internal battle leads to a real outburst of raw emotion and pain causing him to, “[shriek] aloud; an outcry that went pealing through the night, and was beaten back from one house to another, and reverberated from the hills in the background… ‘It is done!’ muttered the minister, covering his face with his hands. ‘The whole town will awake, and hurry forth, and find me here!’” (135). Dimmesdale instantly regrets his decision to vocalize his pain. The hope that one of the townspeople will discover him there and understand that he is the father to Pearl vanish when he realizes the consequences that he may face for confessing to adultery. Dimmesdale is aware that confessing is the just thing to do, and he is aware that it will relieve him of the constant torture he inflicts on himself, but he is too afraid that he will be punished, criticized, and ostracized if he does confess. Considering taking his confession into his own hands allows Dimmesdale to see that he would be able to fully do it, once he builds the courage. Dimmesdale has grown from allowing others to confess for him to contemplating doing it
Dimmesdale wants to do, but he is too afraid of the consequences he may face. He is unsure if he sould confess and his internal battle leads to a real outburst of raw emotion and pain causing him to, “[shriek] aloud; an outcry that went pealing through the night, and was beaten back from one house to another, and reverberated from the hills in the background… ‘It is done!’ muttered the minister, covering his face with his hands. ‘The whole town will awake, and hurry forth, and find me here!’” (135). Dimmesdale instantly regrets his decision to vocalize his pain. The hope that one of the townspeople will discover him there and understand that he is the father to Pearl vanish when he realizes the consequences that he may face for confessing to adultery. Dimmesdale is aware that confessing is the just thing to do, and he is aware that it will relieve him of the constant torture he inflicts on himself, but he is too afraid that he will be punished, criticized, and ostracized if he does confess. Considering taking his confession into his own hands allows Dimmesdale to see that he would be able to fully do it, once he builds the courage. Dimmesdale has grown from allowing others to confess for him to contemplating doing it