Why Was Dimmesdale Wrong

Dimmesdale last words shows exactly why he is wrong and why he deserves to go to hell. Dimmesdale made Pearl and Hester suffer and live as the face of humility among the townspeople for 7 years, and he has the audacity to say that he has suffered even more than Hester. Hester was publicly humiliated, almost lost her own daughter, had to wear a scarlet for 7 years, and was looked down upon her own community for years. On the other hand, Dimmesdale was seen as a respectable and kind person, but he caused all of his guilt on his own because he never confessed. He could have relieved the pain from Hester ever since the day she was put on the scaffold, but he refused to be humiliated among his own people. Dimmesdale says, “He hath proved his mercy, most of all, in my afflictions. By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast! By sending yonder dark and terrible old man, to keep the torture always at red-heat! “ In the …show more content…
For example, the “burning torture” mark that is on breast was made by his own mindset and decisions. He caused himself to inflict self harm due to the fact that he couldn't face his own emotions about carrying all the guiltiness that he brought upon the people he has hurt. Furthermore, he’s a minister and he has betrayed one of the 10 commandments which is do no not commit adultery. Dimmesdale expects to go to heaven after not following and not even confessing that he broke one of the most important 10 commandments. I don't see a reason why God will forgive a man that committed adultery, and hid that secret for 7 years, and most importantly he was a minister. As a minister, he is supposed to follow the word of the lord and spread it for the good among his community. He did the exact opposite and decided to hide in the shadows of evil and carried the guiltiness with him everywhere he