The character development of arthur dimmesdale in the scarlet letter a novel by nathaniel hawthorne
Throughout The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne shows major character development and proves to be a strong, important character. There is no doubt that he is devoted to God, passionate in his religion, and effective in the pulpit.
Since God created the soul and infused it in the human body, salvation is predestined. Mine burns in secret! In addition to hours of staring at himself in the mirror, he could also be caught numerous times in his closet, whipping himself and burning the letter "A" on his chest.
Hester prynne
Innocent little Pearl wonders why Dimmesdale is so afraid of public displays of affection, yet when they are alone, he takes notice of her and Hester. Dimmesdale is continually trying to see who he is. Chillingworth, claiming to be a doctor, befriends Dimmesdale. Of the four major characters in this novel, which investigates the nature of evil and sin and is a criticism of Puritan rigidity and intolerance, Dimmesdale is the only Puritan. From this point on, we see Dimmesdale become weaker and more dependant. He calls to them and asks them to join him on the scaffold. Thus, he chooses not to tell what he did. Hester lived this message. Oftentimes, this Protestant and Puritan divine had plied it on his own shoulders, laughing bitterly at himself the while, and smiting so much the more pitilessly because of that bitter laugh. In the beginning of the story, she is found guilty of adultery and is forced to wear the scarlet letter. There is no doubt that he is devoted to God, passionate in his religion, and effective in the pulpit.If he publicly confesses, he loses his ability to be effective in this regard. But these punishments are done in private rather than in public and do not provide the cleansing Dimmesdale seeks and needs.
In other words, Arthur can preach a good sermon about the consequences of sin, but he sure can't deal with them himself. 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.
At the beginning of the novel, Dimmesdale has established quite a reputation for …show more content… Abandoning Hester and her illegitimate daughter Pearl also augmented his problems. He even has the nerve to tell Hester that he envies her: Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom!
Or he could be seen at the scaffold in the wee hours of the morning, practicing how he is going to confess the next day.