Scarlet Letter Chapter 18 Analysis Essay

In Chapters 9 through 18 of the Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne explores many ideas. In the beginning of this section, the author mainly focuses on the aspect of guilt and the fight within Dimmesdale’s body between his mind and his heart. Through this section, readers have a better opportunity to learn about the true nature of Dimmesdale’s character. He is in a constant conflict between doing what is moral and right and admitting to his sins and keeping the secret to himself in order to keep his high position as a minister. Because of this internal conflict, the minister suffers of a heart problem, clutching his heart at any sight of danger. The heart problem symbolizes his biggest enemy, his own conscience, eating him up from the inside and turning his life upside down. Not only does …show more content…
He tries to get into Dimmesdale’s heart and find as much dirt on him he can. He wants to discover all his secrets and get to the bottom of this “heart problem” he is having. Through the use of the previously mentioned heart problem, the author is trying to convey how his secret is beginning to affect Dimmesdale physically. The author also looks into the symbolism of the big sin. When Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl all stand on the podium, they see a light of a red letter A. At that moment, they are all holding hands while Dimmesdale’s other hand lies on his chest. In this part the author is trying to show how all of these characters are a part of the big conflict and no matter how much they wish to avoid it, they are all involved. The scarlet letter on Hester’s breast, Pearl herself, and Dimmesdale’s heart all represent the guilt of the sin they have committed. It conveys the feeling of impurity and also paints DImmesdale as a coward when he rejects Pearls proposal to stand with her and her mother on the scaffold the next day.Later the author also shows the development of Hester’s