The Scarlet Letter Essay #1

Dimmesdale’s Torment

When one commits a sin, it is in their best interest to confess it, rather than to conceal it, in hope to eliminate their wrongdoing. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale committed lechery and believed it would be best to hide his sin. In order to extinguish it, he needed to confess. Although he wanted to spill his iniquitous heart and speak the truth, Dimmesdale was hiding his secret to benefit the many people who looked up to him. If his eminence was besmirched, then people would lose the hope he gave to them and the faith they had in him. Dimmesdale was a prominent role model in the community, suffering for its well- being. By keeping his sin within him, he thought he was doing the right thing, but in the end, it caused Dimmesdale to be tormented by God.

When Dimmesdale is asked to convince Hester to reveal the baby’s father, he earnestly pleads with her to do so: “Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for […] though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee […] than to hide a guilty heart through life” (63). Dimmesdale wants his name to be revealed and is trying to avoid living with a guilty burden. It is not until Roger Chillingworth comes along, when things worsen.

While Dimmesdale is suffering from distress, Roger Chillingworth, Hester Prynne’s husband and a skilled physician, comes to town. After hearing about Hester’s adultery, he makes his sole purpose to find the man who wronged him: “I shall seek this man. […] I shall see him tremble. […] He must needs be mine” (70). Unfortunately, Chillingworth is a master at reading people, and quickly catches on to Dimmesdale’s secret at the Governor’s Hall, where Dimmesdale convinces Bellingham why it would be better for Pearl to stay with Hester: “If [Hester] bring[s] the child to heaven, the child also will bring its parent thither! Herein is the sinful mother happier than the sinful father” (105). Dimmesdale does not think he will go to heaven, but believes if he suffers now, there may be a chance. It is later learnt that Chillingworth’s revenge is to keep Dimmesdale alive: “Your clutch on his life and you cause him to die daily a living death” (154). Dimmesdale’s desire to be tormented parallels Chillingworth’s desire to seek revenge upon him.

Aside from the issue of Chillingworth, “it is inconceivable; the agony with which [Dimmesdale’s] public veneration torture[s] him!” (130). Dimmesdale cannot stand lying to his followers, who think so highly of him. When Dimmesdale finally gathers up enough courage to indirectly tell the truth, nobody believes him: "[Dimmesdale] told his hearers that he was […] a thing of unimaginable iniquity; [but] they little guessed what deadly purport lurked in those self-condemning words" (131). Because Dimmesdale is so highly revered among his followers, everybody thinks he is being too hard on himself. The people believe they are pale in comparison, not being just as hard on themselves. The only positive outcome of this was the audience’s moral improvement. However, the negative was Dimmesdale having to physically punish himself.

Hester blames herself for Dimmesdale’s suffering and decides to talk to him in the forest. Dimmesdale tells Hester he is in “nothing but despair” (172) and how he laughs “in bitterness and agony […] at the contrast between what [he] is and what [he] seems to be” (173). Dimmesdale hates the fact he is living a lie, being a sinful man in a holy priest’s body. Hester also tells Dimmesdale that he has repented and that it is a minister’s job to forgive and God’s job to punish, but Dimmesdale tells her that he wants somebody to see him the way he sees himself. With Hester’s support, Dimmesdale is hopeful of redemption: “Neither can I any longer live without her companionship; so powerful is she to sustain, -so tender to soothe!” (181).

Dimmesdale goes through a transformation after returning from the forest and is inspired to write a moving Election Sermon: “Dimmesdale […] exhibited such energy [and] his hand [did not] rest ominously upon his heart. […] His strength seemed not of the body” (213). Throughout the book, Dimmesdale worries about the punishment God will give him. After seven painful years of suffering, he finally realizes that God is merciful. God will decide what should be done with Dimmesdale, not the crowd or the beatings he gave himself. By keeping his sin inside of him, Dimmesdale associated himself with the Devil. After lifting his burden from his chest and letting society know of his lechery, he breaks away from the Devil by letting God decide his fate.

Dimmesdale fulfills Pearl’s wish to stand on the scaffold with Hester and herself: “I shall indeed, stand with thy mother and thee, one other day” (139). Dimmesdale also reveals his A to all the people, confessing his sin, which gives him the redemption he sought for. With a lifted burden, he thanks God for his torture that makes him realize what he should have done in the first place: “He hath proved His mercy […] by giving me this burning torture, […] sending [Chillingworth], and […] bringing me hither, to die this death of triumph […] before the people! Had any of these agonies been wanting, I had been lost forever!” (229). After his farewell, Dimmesdale passes away into Eternal Justice, leaving his pain and agony behind.

Dimmesdale went through a painful cycle of torment to realize something he wanted to do in the first place. If he had told the truth earlier, he could have enjoyed the rest of his life with Hester and Pearl, without being weighed down by his sin. Dimmesdale died “to impress on his admirers [that] in the view of Infinite Purity, we are all sinners alike [and] show freely to the world […] some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!” (231). Dimmesdale led people to believe something he was not. By doing so, he continued to build onto his sin, creating a wider gap between God and himself. A way of absolving his sin was if he simply told the truth.

The Scarlet Letter #10

"In the name of Him, so terrible and so merciful, who gives me grace, at this last moment, to do what- for my own heavy sin and miserable agony- I withheld myself from doing seven years ago" (226).

Throughout the book, Dimmesdale was worried about the punishment God would give him. After seven painful years of suffering, he finally realizes that God is merciful. God will decide what should be done with Dimmesdale, not the crowd or the beatings he gave himself. Since Dimmesdale is a reverend, it is ironic how he did not know this at first. By keeping his sin inside of him, Dimmesdale associated himself with the Devil. After lifting his burden from his chest and letting society know of his lechery, he broke away from the Devil by letting God decide his fate. This also occurs in The Crucible. John Proctor tried to seek redemption from Elizabeth and the court, instead of letting God be his final judge. It was not until Rebecca Nurse opened his eyes that he realized he was making a mistake. Likewise, Dimmesdale opened his eyes after the conversation he had with Hester in the forest.


"Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. [...] Pearl's errand as a messenger of anguish was all fulfilled" (229).

Pearl's job of reminding her parents of their sin was completed. Dimmesdale poured his heart out, confessing his lechery to his followers and died without a burden weighing him down. Dimmesdale and Hester were unified as both As were revealed in front of the town. Pearl stood by them as the "connecting link between th[e] two" (140). Once Dimmesdale and Hester were unified, Pearl conformed from her elfish behavior. Pearl kissed her father, which she refused to do earlier in the book, symbolizing the change within her.

The Scarlet Letter #9

"Wilt thou come across the brook, and own thy mother, now that she has her shame upon her,- now that she is sad?" (190).

Pearl prevented her mother from lifting the burden she bore off her chest. Hester's sin will always remain with her, either in the form of Pearl or the scarlet letter. The problem with this is that both Pearl and the scarlet letter go hand-in-hand. If the scarlet letter is gone, Pearl will not find the same comfort she found in her mother when it had been present. This can be seen during the brook incident. The scarlet letter was also "the first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware [of]" (88). Pearl only chose to come to her mother once the scarlet letter was put back in its rightful place. In joy, Pearl even "put up her mouth, and kissed the scarlet letter" (190). Pearl's happiness seems to revolve around her mother's misery. Dimmesdale also uneasily mentions to Hester that the "brook is the boundary between two worlds, and that [Hester] canst never meet [...] Pearl again" (188). Pearl was standing on the other side of the brook, while the scarlet letter was floating in it. The boundary of the two worlds can be seen through Hester's happiness without Pearl and the scarlet letter and her transformation back to her cheerless self once Pearl comes back. The only way Hester can free herself from her burden is to let go of the two things that hold it down and move on to a new world, leaving the two tokens of shame behind by the boundary of the brook.


"Another man had reached out of the forest: a wiser one; with a knowledge of hidden mysteries which the simplicity of the former never could have reached" (200).

Dimmesdale's new attitude is the feeling of freedom. He constrained himself in society by keeping his burdens within him, but the forest allowed him to meet with Hester and let out his pain. The forest symbolizes the freedom that society does not offer. In The Crucible, everybody is banned from going into the woods, yet this is where the true colors of some of the characters are revealed. Abigail and her followers danced around naked, while Tituba chanted rituals. This would never happen in the town itself. In the woods, the characters found freedom to act the way they did. Likewise, the forest in The Scarlet Letter opened Dimmesdale to the capability of the power he holds on the people. He realizes that he has the ability to "blight all the field of innocence" (197) from his devout followers. Before, he never thought to commit such heathenish deeds like ruining a young woman's purity. Dimmesdale changed into a new person. Time will tell whether this transformation will not be torn down by Chillingworth.

The Scarlet Letter #8

"No golden light had ever been so precious as the gloom of this dark forest. Here, seen only by his eyes, the scarlet letter need not burn into the bosom of the fallen woman!" (176-177).

Hester and Dimmesdale are both alone in society. They hold a burden upon their chests that can neither be lifted nor confided in somebody to help lift it. All they have is each other, which poses a problem because their meetings can only be professional. Dimmesdale finally pours out his burdens to Hester and feels a lot better: "Thou littlest know what a relief it is, after the torment of a seven years cheat, to look into an eye that recognizes me for what I am!" (173). When Dimmesdale is with Hester, it is the only time he does not need to put on a false appearance. Likewise, Hester does not feel shameful when she is with him. In other words, they both need each other. This brings out their special bond that Hester and Chillingworth lack. Hester and Dimmesdale will find happiness if they can be with each other, but neither society nor Chillingworth will let that happen.


"The judgment of God is on me. [...] It is too mighty for me to struggle with!" (177).

God will decide Hester and Dimmesdale's punishment, but how can God punish them if all they did was fall in love? The definition of a marriage, according to www.dictionary.com, is simply the union between two people, whereas a wedding involves sentimental connotations. When two people wed, it is because they are in love with each other. Hester unwillingly married Chillingworth. She was even straightforward in telling Chillingworth she did not love him: "Thou knowest that I was frank with thee. I felt no love, nor feigned any" (69). God knows this too because He sees everything. Hester married for the sake of marrying, not because she genuinely cared for Chillingworth or desired it. It is the equivalent of apologizing to somebody without actually meaning it. Just because Hester married Chillingworth, it does not mean she loved him. Society is forgetting that love is the beginning and end of theology. It is not right to punish somebody because they loved. Even if this argument is flawed, Hester and Dimmesdale have both suffered enough to not receive a brutal punishment. Hester was obedient to the consequences she faced, living a lonely, quiet life. Likewise, Dimmesdale physically punished himself and suffered for the good of others. God cannot simply follow a rule book and punish them both just because Hester finally stepped out of her meaningless marriage to be with somebody she truly loved. On top of that, Chillingworth left Hester for three years, without any contact. How can the marriage between Hester and Chillingworth be called a marriage if he is not around? The only thing that would have held them together was if both Hester and Chillingworth were mutually in love, which their relationship lacked. Hester and Dimmesdale know what they did was wrong, but it cannot be helped once one falls in love with another. It is especially difficult when their relationship needs to be hidden from society. The goal of punishing a person is for the sinner to realize the wrong they have committed and both Hester and Dimmesdale have done this.

The Scarlet Letter #7

"It lies not in the pleasure of the magistrates to take off this badge. [...] Were I worthy to be quit of it, it would fall away of its own nature" (153).

If the magistrates do take off the scarlet letter, it's presence will still be in Hester's heart. Whether or not the letter is on her, she still committed adultery. In the beginning of the story, the scarlet letter's purpose is to bring Hester an incalculable amount of shame. Now, the scarlet letter "had the effect of the cross on a nun's bosom" (147). People stopped looking at the scarlet A for the purpose it resembled. Instead, they "said that it meant Able [because] so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength" (146). Hester did not beat herself in her guilt. Instead, she took it upon herself to make the best of her situation. Through Hester's kind actions, "society was inclined to show its former victim a more benign countenance than she cared to be favored with" (147). Hester gained some respect from society, but it was not enough to convince her that she was a good person. If she was, the letter "would fall away of its own nature" (153), giving her the absolution she longed for.


"[Dimmesdale] has been conscious of me. He has felt an influence dwelling always upon him like a curse. [...] He knew that no friendly hand was pulling at his heart-string, and that an eye was looking curiously into him, which sought on evil, and found it. But he knew not that the eye and hand were mine!" (155).

Dimmesdale has the pieces to this puzzle, but cannot put it together. He is too good of a man to think ill of another, especially the person who is meant to cure him. Hester blames herself for Dimmesdale's suffering and plans to do something about it: "I perceive such advantage in his living any longer a life of ghastly emptiness, that I shall stoop to implore thy mercy" (157). Hester knows this is something she needs to fix because she "acted a false part by the only man to whom the power was left [for her] to be true" (154). Hester's suffering decreases a little every day, whereas Dimmesdale's suffering increases. Dimmesdale punishes himself over the guilt he has, giving Chillingworth an advantage. Chillingworth can make Dimmesdale feel bad without much effort and Dimmesdale will beat himself over it. Seeing Hester's determination, Chillingworth even told her that her good was wasted by marrying him. Hester is set out to pay the "long debt of confidence, [...] whose bane and ruin [she] has been" (156). The question is whether or not Chillingworth will do something to try and stop it.

The Scarlet Letter #6

"[Dimmesdale] had told his hearers that he was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest, the worst of sinners, and abomination, a thing of unimaginable iniquity; [but] they little guessed what deadly purport lurked in those self-condemning words" (131).

When Dimmesdale finally gathers up enough courage to indirectly tell the truth, nobody believes him. Because Dimmesdale is so highly revered among his followers, everybody thinks he is being too hard on himself. Another instance where Dimmesdale can be caught is when he accidentally leaves his glove on the scaffold. Instead of being interrogated about it, the sexton simply thinks Satan was jesting against Dimmesdale's reverence and that "a pure hand needs no glove to cover it!" (143). The sexton was the least bit suspicious, just like the people were when Dimmesdale announced what a sinful man he was. When Dimmesdale held Pearl's hand on the scaffold, he felt revitalized and was able to lift some remorse he had for not standing with Hester during the number of years she was punished to do so. He deserved it just as much as she did. Dimmesdale finally got the opportunity to do what was just, standing with "his hand over his heart; and Hester Prynne, with the embroidered letter glimmering on her bosom; and little Pearl, herself a symbol, and the connecting link between those two" (140).

The Scarlet Letter #5

"Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale [...] was haunted by either Satan himself, or Satan's emissary, in the guise of Roger Chillingworth. This diabolical agent had Divine permission, for a season, to burrow into the clergyman's intimacy, and plot against his soul" (116-117).

Hester receives her punishment for committing adultery by wearing the scarlet letter and being responsible for raising one of the "token[s] of her shame" (50). Although Hester solely knows Dimmesdale's secret, "God sees him" (58). Roger Chillingworth may be the punishment for Dimmesdale's misdoing, like the scarlet letter is for Hester. Chillingworth is in complete control of Dimmesdale. If Chillingworth wanted to, he could concoct a mixture to negatively effect Dimmesdale. The two men also live in the same house, where Chillingworth is supposed to keep watch over him. In other words, Chillingworth studies Dimmesdale's every move. Chillingworth tries being Dimmesdale's friend and manages to do so, but when he crosses the line, Dimmesdale defends his place: "Let Him do with me as, in His justice and wisdom, He shall see good. But who are thou, that meddlest in this matter? -that dares thrust himself between the sufferer and his God?" (124). Unfortunately, this does not affect Chillingworth who simply sees that "he hath done a wild ere [...] in the passion of his heart" (125). According to Chillingworth, he will mentally break Dimmesdale. Chillingworth is on a mission he thinks will get accomplished.


"Guilty as they may be, retaining, nevertheless, a zeal for God's glory and man's welfare, they shrink from displaying themselves black and filthy in the view of men; because [...] no good can be achieved by them" (120).

Dimmesdale reveals why he cannot confess his sin. Although he wants to spill his iniquitous heart and speak the truth, Dimmesdale is hiding his secret to benefit the many people who look up to him. If his eminence is besmirched, then people will lose the hope he gives to them and the faith they have in him. He is a prominent role model in the community, suffering for its well- being. Chillingworth, on the other hand, thinks Dimmesdale is being selfish, when he is actually being the "true priest" (112) that he is by putting others before himself: "[The guilty] fear to take up the shame that rightfully belongs to them" (121). Dimmesdale is like John Proctor in The Crucible. Proctor wanted to sign the paper to be with Elizabeth and live, but he knew he would be condemning the martyrs who chose to be hanged rather than living a lie. It was not until Rebecca Nurse came that he tore the paper up. Dimmesdale is suffering for the good of others, just like Proctor did. Both men are a symbol of hope in their communities and it would be wrong to let their followers down in order to benefit themselves.