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).