Arthur Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter Essay Example

The light that Dimmesdale once shined has dimmed. The dimming of his light was entirely his fault. Arthur Dimmesdale is one of the main characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter. Despite being a minister, he proves himself to be a sinner. Arthur Dimmesdale is presented as part of a larger context, serves as a conduit to the evaluation of purpose, and, develops his persona through the audience. 

Firstly, the reason the author creates this persona is to present his larger statement, which is: evil exists in all people, even those that appear to have high religious morals. Evil is reflected in Dimmesdale holding his secret in for long. He was a puritan minister that committed adultery with Roger Chillingworth’s wife, Hester. He can’t bring to himself to publicly admit he is a sinner. Instead, he silently observers Hester Prynne being punished for the same exact crime. He has chances, to be honest, but fails to do so because he is afraid he has sinned against God. For example, Hester comes to Dimmesdale and exclaims “Thou wast my pastor, and hadst charge of my soul, and knows me better than these men can. I will not lose my child! Speake for me! Thous knows, -- for thou hast sympathies which these men lack! -- thou knows what is in my heart, and what are a mother’s rights and how much the stronger there are when that mother has but her child and the scarlet letter!” (Hawthorne 96). Prynne is pleading with Dimmesdale for help, so Pearl doesn’t get taken away. However, Dimmesdale fails to act. If he admitted the truth, it could have been better ensured that Pearl wouldn’t be taken away. Furthermore, Dimmesdale failed to take responsibility for his actions. When Prynne is released from prison, all of the blame is placed on her. Dimmesdale opted to cowardly hide behind her. For example, Dimmesdale says to Hester, “Else, I should long ago have thrown off these garments of mock holiness, and have shown myself to mankind as they will see me at the judgment -- seat. Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret! Thou little knowest 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!” (Hawthorne 172). He acted as if Hester had life easier because she openly wore her Scarlet Letter. The same opportunity for Dimmesdale to publicly show his  Scarlet Letter, was always present. Therefore, everyone could recognize him for what he is. Dimmesdale portrayed evil throughout most of the story, up until the point he admitted his sin.. 

Subsequently, because Dimmesdale himself reveals he has a Scarlet Letter, it is reasonable to conclude that religious figures in that society aren’t held to the same standards as everyone else. Dimmesdale is aware that people look up to him because he is a minister. This causes people to turn a blind eye to his actions. When Dimmesdale publicly admitted his sin he wasn’t chastised for it. Dimmesdale announces, “Behold me here, the one sinner of the world! At last!—at last!—I stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood; here, with this woman, whose arm, more than the little strength wherewith I have crept hitherward, sustains me, at this dreadful moment, from groveling down upon my face! Lo, the scarlet letter which Hester wears! Ye have all shuddered at it! Wherever her walk hath been,—wherever, so miserably burdened, she may have hoped to find repose,—it hath cast a lurid gleam of awe and horrible repugnance round about her. But there stood one in the midst of you, at whose brand of sin and infamy ye have not shuddered!” (Hawthorne 261). During Dimmesdale’s sermon, the crowd stayed silent when he revealed his Scarlet Letter and didn’t react negatively. Moreover, after the townspeople had time to gather their thoughts, they didn’t perceive Dimmesdale much differently. Hawthorne explains, “Others contended that the stigma had not been produced until a long time subsequent, when old Roger Chillingworth, being a potent necromancer, had caused it to appear, through the agency of magic and poisonous drugs. Others, again—and those best able to appreciate the minister’s peculiar sensibility, and the wonderful operation of his spirit upon the body,—whispered their belief, that the awful symbol was the effect of the ever active tooth of remorse, gnawing from the inmost heart outwardly, and at last manifesting Heaven’s dreadful judgment by the visible presence of the letter,” (Hawthorne 263). People couldn’t come to terms that Dimmesdale was a sinner and instead game him a pass. His status as a minister allowed him to be held to different standards. 

Finally, the absence of the persona would raise serious questions about- whether or not someone can be at peace holding in the sins forever, or will guilt eventually consume them? Throughout the novel, Dimmesdale punished himself for keeping his sin a secret. For example, Hawthorne notes, “Mr. Dimmesdale’s secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge. 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. It was his custom, too, as it has been that of many other pious Puritans, to fast,” (Hawthorne 150). He punishes himself by going without food and whipping himself.  In addition, there was the recurring symbol of Dimmesdale holding his hand over his heart. Dimmesdale's hand over his heart is presented alongside deteriorating health. Hawthorne states, “A bodily disease, which we look upon as whole and entire within itself, may, after all, be but a symptom of some ailment in the spiritual part,” (Hawthorne 136). Dimmesdale is physically sick and dying. His soul and conscience are also sick but from guilt. Overall, the portrayal of Dimmesdale shows that the guilt from sins will continue to consume someone until they can admit it. 

Nathaniel Hawthorne presented Arthur Dimmesdale’s character in many ways. Dimmesdale was a part of the larger context that evil exists in all people. The persona allows the reader to analyze the different standards religious figures are held to in that society.  Then the absence of the persona would make the audience question, “Would guilt consume someone if they don’t admit their wrongdoings?”.  The light of Arthur Dimmesdale has dimmed, and will never shine again.