Who is reverend dimmesdale in the scarlet letter

One really cannot understand Dimmesdale or his dilemma without at least a cursory understanding of the Puritans who inhabited Boston at this time see the essay "The Puritan Community" in the Critical Essays and Hawthorne's psychological perspective through which he presents this tragic character.

In Puritan terms, Dimmesdale's predicament is that he is unsure of his soul's status: He is exemplary in performing his duties as a Puritan minister, an indicator that he is one of the elect; however, he knows he has sinned and considers himself a hypocrite, a sign he is not chosen. The vigils he keeps are representative of this inward struggle to ascertain his heavenly status, the status of his very soul.

Note that Hawthorne says of Dimmesdale's nightly vigils, which are sometimes in darkness, sometimes in dim light, and sometimes by the most powerful light which he could throw upon it, "He thus typified the constant introspection wherewith he tortured.

Finally, to add to the Dimmesdale dilemma, the Puritans — therefore, Dimmesdale — did not believe that good works or moral living earned salvation for the individual.

As Dimmesdale states, "There is no substance in it [good works]. Since God created the soul and infused it in the human body, salvation is predestined. They reasoned that the elect — that is, God's chosen people — would not or could not commit evil acts; they would act the role, as it were; thus, Dimmesdale's dilemma.

As a minister, Dimmesdale has a voice that consoles and an ability to sway audiences. His congregation adores him and his parishioners seek his advice. As a minister, Dimmesdale must be above reproach, and there is no question that he excels at his profession and enjoys a reputation among his congregation and other ministers.

His soul aside, he does do good works. He comes up with a plan that could ease his suffering. Late one night, Dimmesdale mounts on top of the scaffold Hester stood on seven years earlier. The pain in his chest causes him to scream in agony and fears his screams would wake up the Puritans.

Some people were awakened, but assume it was just a witch's voice. He has foolish thoughts as he stands on the scaffold, and he sees John Wilson walking back after attending the first Boston Governor on his deathbed.

He laughs when he sees Wilson and calls out to him, but Wilson doesn't see him or respond. He imagines what would happen when the townsfolk see their beloved minister publicly shaming himself after he was almost seen. Dimmesdale laughs so much that he is responded by a laugh from Pearl, who he didn't notice her presence. Hester and Pearl were at Governor Withrop's deathbed for Hester to prepare a burial robe and after they left, they spot Dimmesdale on the scaffold.

He invites them to join him and when they do, they start holding hands. Pearl asks him if he would appear on the scaffold tomorrow, and he replies he will only do it on Judgment Day. Dimmesdale feels more warm and active with Hester and Pearl's presence. At that moment, a meteor shoots through the sky and when Dimmesdale looks up, he thought he saw an "A" shape in brightened red.

Hester and Pearl notice Chillingworth is watching them and Dimmesdale asks Hester who Chillingworth really is, since he loathes and fears him; even referring to him as a "nameless horror". As Hester cannot tell him his identity, Pearl whispers about it into his ear but says total nonsense.

Chillingworth coaxes his patient to get off the scaffold and the men return home. Dimmesdale asks the physician where he found him, and Chillingworth claims he was leaving from the governor's deathbed as well. The next day, Dimmesdale delivers his most powerful sermon. Afterwards, the sexton gives him a black glove found on the scaffold and claims Satan must have left it there. He also mentions some of the townsfolk have reported seeing a bright red "A" shape formed from a falling meteor.

They assumed it stood for "Angel" as their deceased Governor Withrop has now ascended to Heaven. Dimmesdale returns from visiting a Native American settlement when he meets Hester and Pearl in the forest. He approaches them while clutching his chest where his heart is and feeling weak.

Free from the public and Chillingworth, the couple hold hands and sit together in a secluded area by a brook. The two of them talk about the past 7 years, with Dimmesdale asking her if she has found peace.

He then confesses about his misery and depression of him wanting to reveal himself being a sinner. When Hester tells him Chillingworth is her husband, he blames her for his suffering as well as lamenting how he was unable to to see past the physician's evil appearance. As he was pulled to Hester's chest and lays against her scarlet letter, he doesn't forgive her at first, but eventually gives in by calling Chillingworth the worst sinner than any of them.

He worries about Chillingworth, thinking there is no way out under his shadow and is afraid he will expose both of their secrets to the public. Hester convinces him he should start a new life in Europe, and when Dimmesdale says he isn't strong enough to go alone, she tells him she and Pearl will join him. He is surprised by her bold suggestion but is hopeful and excited that his misery will end when they flee Boston and travel to Europe.

He calls Hester an angel and is relieved with joy again. She tosses her scarlet letter away and the couple are brightened by sunlight from the trees. They talk about Pearl and that he should see her so they can be together as a family. Hester calls for Pearl while Dimmesdale is afraid the girl's resemblance of him would reveal his secret.

Pearl doesn't recognize her parents but when her mother puts her scarlet letter back on, her daughter comes to them. Pearl asks Dimmesdale if he would come back to town with them, but since he isn't yet, he gives her a kiss but she washes the kiss off at the brook.

The couple agree to escape Boston and in 4 days, they will depart on a ship to England. The day before they leave, he would resign his position right after he delivers his Election Sermon. As he returns to Boston, he can barely believe their plan and his changes. Already have an account? Sign in. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Literature Poetry Lit Terms Shakescleare. Download this LitChart! Teachers and parents!

Struggling with distance learning? Themes All Themes. Symbols All Symbols. Theme Wheel. Everything you need for every book you read. The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive.

A well respected Boston reverend who has an affair with Hester Prynne and is the secret father of Pearl. Shy, retiring, and well loved and respected by his public, Dimmesdale is too frightened and selfish to reveal his sin and bear the burden of punishment with Hester. Yet at the same time, Dimmesdale secretly punishes himself for his sin by fasting and whipping himself. Ultimately the suffering and punishment he endures, though self-inflicted, proves far worse than Hester's or Pearl's, suggesting that betrayal and selfishness are greater sins than adultery.

Dimmesdale's guilty conscience overwhelms him like a plague, robbing him of his health and preventing him from raising his daughter. His eventual confession comes too late, and he dies a victim of his own pride. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:.

Chapter 3 Quotes. What can thy silence do for him, except it tempt him--yea, compel him, as it were--to add hypocrisy to sin? Related Themes: Sin. Page Number and Citation : 63 Cite this Quote. Explanation and Analysis:. Chapter 4 Quotes. He noticed her involuntary gesture, and smiled. And, that thou mayst live, take off this draught. Related Symbols: Red and Black. Page Number and Citation : 69 Cite this Quote.

Chapter 11 Quotes. Would not the people start up in their seats, by a simultaneous impulse, and tear him down out of the pulpit which he defiled? Not so, indeed! They heard it all, and did but reverence him the more. They little guessed what deadly purport lurked in those self-condemning words.

Related Characters: Arthur Dimmesdale. Page Number and Citation : Cite this Quote. Chapter 12 Quotes. I shall, indeed, stand with thy mother thee one other day, but not to-morrow!

Josh Lyon Mrs. The amount of symbolism Hawthorne uses could lead some to believe that The Scarlet Letter is in fact an allegory. Hawthorne uses everyday objects and places to symbolize many main themes, concepts, and ideas in the lives of Hester and Pearl as. In The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the story revolves around the lives and the events of the following characters: Hester Prynne, who is the mother of an illegitimate child with the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and is now being outcasted by her Puritan community because of it; the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale who is the charming minister of 17th century Boston, the father of an illegitimate child and has not had his sin revealed; then there's Roger Chillingworth who is the estranged.

Cady Oct. Unfortunately, life is not fair. Sometimes, people are faced with serious misfortune and must adapt to survive. And sometimes in this state of adaption, the person will learn new skills from the. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and the Scarlet Letter As the loved pastor whose undisclosed guilt destroyed him and the secret lover of Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale is an interesting character in The Scarlet Letter and plays an important role throughout the book.

His interactions with the other main characters in the book such as Roger Chillingworth, Hester Prynne , and Pearl are secretive and painful, and display his inner pain. Hester had committed adultery, against her husband with one that she would not name!