I will be focusing on the passage where Dimmesdale is on the scaffold, scourging and holding long vigils. This particular passage reveals that Dimmesdale is, in fact, a good man, and feels truly guilty about his sin. "And thus, while standing on the scaffold, in this vain show of expiation, Mr. Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror of mind, as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart. On that spot, in very truth, there was, and there had long been, the gnawing and poisonous tooth of bodily pain. Without any effort of his will, or power to restrain himself, he shrieked aloud; an outcry that went pealing through the night, and was beaten back from one house to another, and reverberated from the hills in the background; as if a company of devils, detecting so much misery and terror in it, had made a plaything of the sound, and were bandying it to and fro." Dimmesdale attempts many times to confess his sin to the public, but cannot bring himself to do it. When he got close though, he was not pleased with himself. This passage is universal to the novel at large, because it eventually leads up to his actual confession at the Election Day Holiday. This one passage is very unique, because it does reveal so much about Dimmesdale's character. He understands when something should be done, and knows he needs to face the consequences. This passage might reveal that Hawthorne feels locked up about something. He may be wanted to release something to the public, but may not have the nerve to.
He is merciful! He hath proved his mercy, most of all, in my afflictions. By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast! By sending yonder dark and terrible old man, to keep the torture always at red-heat! By bringing me hither, to die this death of triumphant ignominy before the people! Had either of these agonies been wanting, I had been lost for ever! Praised be his name! His will be done! Farewell!"
That final word came forth with the minister's expiring breath. The multitude, silent till then, broke out in a strange, deep voice of awe and wonder, which could not as yet find utterance, save in this murmur that rolled so heavily after the departed spirit.
This is the passage where Dimmesdale is on the scaffold, showing the town he is the man who was with Hester. It reveals that Dimmesdale, after 7 years of increasing weakness, was finally brave enough to show all his sin. His sin, which is present throughout the novel as the scarlet letter, was hidden under 7 years of lies. And on that day he finally snapped, and feebly walked up to the scaffold with Hester and their daughter, Pearl. The events here will shape the rest of story by Roger Chillingworth's death, Hester's mysterious disappearance and reappearance, and Hester's life. Since Dimmesdale delivered his wrong, the people are much nicer towards Hester, even coming for her council. Hawthorne is trying to say that even the holiest of men can sin, and will sin, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Puritan society is based off of lies and cannot be carried out perfectly is what Hawthorne is trying to say.
"But Arthur Dimmesdale! Were such a man once more to fall, what plea could be urged in extenuation of his crime? None; unless it avail him somewhat, that he was broken down by long and exquisite suffering; that his mind was darkened and confused by the very remorse which harrowed it; that, between fleeing as an avowed criminal, and remaining as a hypocrite, conscience might find it hard to strike the balance; that it was human to avoid the peril of death and infamy, and the inscrutable machinations of an enemy; that, finally, to this poor pilgrim, on his dreary and desert path, faint, sick, miserable, there appeared a glimpse of human affection and sympathy, a new life, and a true one, in exchange for the heavy doom which he was now expiating." Hester, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Pearl are in the forest and Hester has just announced to Mr. Dimmesdale that she will leave with him so that they can both escape their sin. He has not told anyone publicly of his sin yet, and he is contemplating on whether to flee town without admitting his sin or to stay living with it forever. He is struggling with the fact that if he was to leave without admitting his sin he would be a "criminal" to the people, and once again having to live with another sin on his shoulders. And he also knows that if he stays he will be the "hypocrite" of the town; telling people to never sin when he has sinned worse then they will ever know. And he is fighting with God and the Devil. This passage shows that Dimmesdale really doesn't want to have to live another lie, yet he knows that if he doesn't tell he will be prolonging his first sin. Dimmesdale knows that either way it would be humanly impossible to escape the jaws of death, whether he put it upon himself or the public execute him as a hypocrite. He wants whats best for the people and for his reputation, which may not be what is best for him in the end. Both God and the Devil are on his shoulders persuading him to sway one way or the other. Although he sees a light through the tunnel, that light being Hester and Pearl, he knows that either way their lives would not be made worse because they have nothing to lose; it would be his own life that was changed drastically because he is put on such a high pedastle in the town. This quote shows the effects of sin and how the consequences are larger than he ever imagined them to be. This shows Dimmesdale's struggle vividly. It shows how he was unsure of what to do even though he was so close to God and was a preacher of God's word. The internal conflict plays out in the final scenes of The Scarlet Letter when Dimmesdale decides to announce his sin to the public. Hawthorne showed this struggle because he wanted to get inside Dimmesdale's head and show the reader how difficult his decision was. Both had negative impacts and those heavy consequences are what sin leads to.
"Even in the grave-yard, here at hand," answered the physician, continuing his employment. "They are new to me. I found them growing on a grave, which bore no tombstone, no other memorial of the dead man, save these ugly weeds that have taken upon themselves to keep him in remembrance. They grew out of his heart, and typify, it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime."
"Perchance," said Mr. Dimmesdale, "he earnestly desired it, but could not."
"And wherefore?" rejoined the physician. "Wherefore not; since all the powers of nature call so earnestly for the confession of sin, that these black weeds have sprung up out of a buried heart, to make manifest an outspoken crime?"
This passage comes during the turning point of Chillingworth's friendly actions to his torment of Dimmesdale. The weed is compared to a sin that the man died with, similar to how the prison was compared to a black flower earlier. Chillingworth is starting to figure out that Dimmesdale is the adulterer and is turning more devilish.
This passage is in stark contrast to Dimmesdale's dying words. Here, Dimmesdale is trying to make a case for the people who just could not confess, like himself. Chillingworth is trying to get Dimmesdale to confess. In the end, Dimmesdale decides to confess and dies, with Chillingworth trying to stop him. It is like the men have swapped viewpoints from this earlier passage.
"It must be even so," resumed the minister. "For, if we deem it otherwise, do we not thereby say that the Heavenly Father, the Creator of all flesh, hath lightly recognized a deed of sin, and made of no account the distinction between unhallowed lust and holy love? This child of its father's guilt and its mother's shame has come from the hand of God, to work in many ways upon her heart, who pleads so earnestly, and with such bitterness of spirit, the right to keep her. It was meant for a blessing; for the one blessing of her life! It was meant, doubtless, as the mother herself hath told us, for a retribution too; a torture, to be felt at many an unthought of moment; a pang, a sting, an ever-recurring agony, in the midst of a troubled joy! Hath she not expressed this thought in the garb of the poor child, so forcibly reminding us of that red symbol which sears her bosom?"
This quote from Arthur Dimmsdale displays both his hypocritical side in which he desires to keep his sin a secret, but also an inward guilt and desire to atone for his sin. The Governor and another minister have just been discussing whether or not Pearl should be allowed to stay in Hester’s care or not, and Hester “by a sudden impulse” appeals to her pastor for help. His answer comes across to the men as very just and well thought out reason for Pearl to stay with Hester. While his answer was ell founded, he had other motives. He desired to some how relinquish some of his pain and guilt for his sin by giving Hester Pearl to keep, as well as show kindness to his daughter. He mentions how the child is both a product of her father’s sin as well as her mother’s, almost voicing his sin as if he truly desired to rush and embrace his family at this moment, well before he makes the truth known. He then goes on to explain how Pearl is both a blessing and a punishment, directly to Hester, but also indirectly to him. Her blessing is something that he wants to be able to enjoy, which is why he pleads for Hester’s cause, yet he also has insight into the torture Pearl brings, making this a viable punishment for Hester in the others’ eyes, as well as again hinting at his deeper connection.
This passage is one of the few scenes that truly show the minister’s struggle in view of society. Hawthorne allows the reader to enter into Dimmsdale’s mind and see the conflict there; however this scene gives us a view of just how difficult it was for Dimmsdale to go through each day with the weight of his sin. Hawthorne uses this scene to show Dimmsdale for how he appears to the town, truly caring and led by God to hand down decisions such as this one pertaining to Pearl, while also giving the reader a view of the connection between the three.
Hester Prynne remained constant in her resolve to make known to Mr. Dimmesdale, at whatever risk of present pain or ulterior consequences, the true character of the man who had crept into his intimacy. For several days, however, she vainly sought an opportunity of addressing him in some of the meditative walks which she knew him to be in the habit of taking, along the shores of the peninsula, or on the wooded hills of the neighbouring country. There would have been no scandal, indeed, nor peril to the holy whiteness of the clergyman's good fame, had she visited him in his own study; where many a penitent, ere now, had confessed sins of perhaps as deep a die as the one betokened by the scarlet letter. But, partly that she dreaded the secret or undisguised interference of old Roger Chillingworth, and partly that her conscious heart imparted suspicion where none could have been felt, and partly that both the minister and she would need the whole wide world to breathe in, while they talked together,--for all these reasons, Hester never thought of meeting him in any narrower privacy than beneath the open sky.
At last, while attending in a sick-chamber, whither the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale had been summoned to make a prayer, she learnt that he had gone, the day before, to visit the Apostle Eliot, among his Indian converts. He would probably return, by a certain hour, in the afternoon of the morrow. Betimes, therefore, the next day, Hester took little Pearl,--who was necessarily the companion of all her mother's expeditions, however inconvenient her presence,--and set forth.
"…They grew out of his heart, and typify, it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime.” This passage reveals all the unconfessed sin Dimmesdale is holding back. He is holding in so much sin that he is becoming crazy. This quote touches on the whole idea of unconfessed sin in this novel. Everybody has sin they haven't told or they are trying to protect somebody else's secret. This passage is unique because it defines Dimmesdale. In this book his whole struggle is over the sin and this is revealing that struggle.Themes will play out by seeing if Dimmesdale will make it through the novel with this sin on his back. It also makes the reader curious to see if he will break down and snitch on Hester and himself. This passage shows that Hawthorne believes that people should confess their sins instead of holding them in. It also shows that the longer you hold it in the more it will make you crazy.
"In this manner, the mysterious old Roger Chillingworth became the medical adviser of the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale. As not only the disease interested the physician, but he was strongly moved to look into the character and qualities of the patient, these two men, so different in age, came gradually to spend much time together. For the sake of the minister's health, and to enable the leech to gather plants with healing balm in them, they took long walks on the seashore, or in the forest; mingling various talk with the plash and murmur of the waves, and the solemn wind-anthem among the tree-tops. Often, likewise, one was the guest of the other, in his place of study and retirement. There was a fascination for the minister in the company of the man of science, in whom he recognized an intellectual cultivation of no moderate depth or scope; together with a range and freedom of ideas, that he would have vainly looked for among the members of his own profession. In truth, he was startled, if not shocked, to find this attribute in the physician. Mr. Dimmesdale was a true priest, a true religionist, with the reverential sentiment largely developed, and an order of mind that impelled itself powerfully along the track of a creed, and wore its passage continually deeper with the lapse of time. In no state of society would he have been what is called a man of liberal views; it would always be essential to his peace to feel the pressure of a faith about him, supporting, while it confined him within its iron framework. Not the less, however, though with a tremulous enjoyment, did he feel the occasional relief of looking at the universe through the medium of another kind of intellect than those with which he habitually held converse. It was as if a window were thrown open, admitting a freer atmosphere into the close and stifled study, where his life was wasting itself away, amid lamp-light, or obstructed day-beams, and the musty fragrance, be it sensual or moral, that exhales from books. But the air was too fresh and chill to be long breathed, with comfort. So the minister, and the physician with him, withdrew again within the limits of what their church defined as orthodox."
This passage in chapter nine is during Chillingworth's attachment to Dimmesdale, following Hester's appeal to keep Pearl.
Chillingworth was beginning his parasitic relationship with Dimmesdale, becoming his companion for medical reasons and his intellectual portal into other modes of life.
Dimmesdale was probably looking for other view points that would take a softer look at his sin of adultery. But it marks the beginning of Dimmesdale's torment caused by Chillingworth. This is the weakness that Chillingworth uses to enter Dimmesdale's psyche. Dimmesdale's trust of Chillingworth eventually leads to his demise upon the scaffold, for he would have reconciled his sin with himself if he had not been continually reminded by Chillingworth, and lived longer. Hawthorne could have been hinting that evil mascarades as a good thing to inter your life.
The old Roger Chillingworth became the medical adviser of the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale when they both realized that Mr.Dimmesdale was sick . As not only the disease interested the physician, he was strongly moved to look into the character and qualities of the patient, these two men, so different in age, came gradually to spend much time together. For the sake of the minister's health, and to enable the leech to gather plants with healing balm in them, they took long walks on the seashore, or in the forest; mingling various talk with the plash and murmur of the waves, and the solemn wind-anthem among the tree-tops. Often, likewise, one was the guest of the other, in his place of study and retirement. There was a fascination for the minister in the company of the man of science, in whom he recognized an intellectual cultivation of no moderate depth or scope; together with a range and freedom of ideas, that he would have vainly looked for among the members of his own profession. In truth, he was startled, if not shocked, to find this attribute in the physician. Mr. Dimmesdale was a true priest, a true religionist, with the reverential sentiment largely developed, and an order of mind that impelled itself powerfully along the track of a creed, and wore its passage continually deeper with the lapse of time. In no state of society would he have been what is called a man of liberal views; it would always be essential to his peace to feel the pressure of a faith about him, supporting, while it confined him within its iron framework. Not the less, however, though with a tremulous enjoyment, did he feel the occasional relief of looking at the universe through the medium of another kind of intellect than those with which he habitually held converse. It was as if a window were thrown open, admitting a freer atmosphere into the close and stifled study, where his life was wasting itself away, amid lamp-light, or obstructed day-beams, and the musty fragrance, be it sensual or moral, that exhales from books. But the air was too fresh and chill to be long breathed, with comfort. So the minister, and the physician with him, withdrew again within the limits of what their church defined as orthodox."
This passage in chapter nine is during Chillingworth's attachment to Dimmesdale, following Hester's appeal to keep Pearl.
Chillingworth was beginning his parasitic relationship with Dimmesdale, becoming his companion for medical reasons and his intellectual portal into other modes of life.
Dimmesdale was probably looking for other view points that would take a softer look at his sin of adultery. But it marks the beginning of Dimmesdale's torment caused by Chillingworth. This is the weakness that Chillingworth uses to enter Dimmesdale's psyche. Dimmesdale's trust of Chillingworth eventually leads to his demise upon the scaffold, for he would have reconciled his sin with himself if he had not been continually reminded by Chillingworth, and lived longer. Hawthorne could have been hinting that evil mascarades as a good thing to inter your life.
"But Arthur Dimmesdale! Were such a man once more to fall, what plea could be urged in extenuation of his crime? None; unless it avail him somewhat, that he was broken down by long and exquisite suffering; that his mind was darkened and confused by the very remorse which harrowed it; that, between fleeing as an avowed criminal, and remaining as a hypocrite, conscience might find it hard to strike the balance; that it was human to avoid the peril of death and infamy, and the inscrutable machinations of an enemy; that, finally, to this poor pilgrim, on his dreary and desert path, faint, sick, miserable, there appeared a glimpse of human affection and sympathy, a new life, and a true one, in exchange for the heavy doom which he was now expiating."
This quote is made from the narrator when Dimmesdale and Hester are meeting in the forrest. Hester has just told Dimmesdale that he will not go to England by himself, that she and Pearl will go with him. What this quote reveals about the character Reverend Dimmesdale is that in his mind, the act of running away with Hester and Pearl back to England could be described as trading the miserable life that he is currently physically and psychologically living, in for a more peace of mind lifestyle. The issues that this quote touches on is the mindset that humans often have, that if we run away from things that are hurting us, and are tempted to ignore subjects that are required to be faced, then our lives wil end up better than the ones we have at present. This quote is important because it shows that Dimmesdale is willing to demolish his reputation in New England as a highly respectable preecher and attempt to run away from his inner demons, who are constantly attacking him and his hidden secret. Dimmesdale continues to long for when Hester, Pearl, and himself sail of for England, untill the Elction Day sermon. He realizes that only if he confeses to everyone what he did as open as Hester did seven years before, could he truly be at peace. I think that Hawthorne's view and purpose of this passage in the Scarlet Letter was to show his readers the possible consequences of what a hidden secret is capable of, if not addressed publically.
"Such was the sympathy of Nature-that wild, heathen Nature of the forest, never subjugated by human law, nor illumined by higher truth-with the bliss of these two spirits! Love, whether newly born, or aroused from a deathlike slumber, must always create a sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance that it overflows upon the outward world. Had the forest still kept its gloom, it would have been bright in Hester's eyes, and bright in Arthur Dimmesdale's!"
Dimsdale is a rule follower. He is also a man of his word he tries to hide his sin but then it haunts him and it seems to always follaw in his footsteps. It shows what a real man he is. It shows how inside he wants to get close to pearl but doesnt want to get to close to pearl that cold hurt her in any way. Dimsdale repents his sins. He had been keeping it to him all along and tries to hide it but it wont go away and he figures that out and tells the trouth to everone. That he is a man of his own word and nothing will get in the way of his life even the things that seem to haunt him.
"Hush, Hester, hush!" said he, with tremulous solemnity. "The law we broke!--the sin here so awfully revealed!--let these alone be in thy thoughts! I fear! I fear! It may be, that, when we forgot our God,--when we violated our reverence each for the other's soul,--it was thenceforth vain to hope that we could meet hereafter, in an everlasting and pure reunion. God knows; and He is merciful! He hath proved his mercy, most of all, in my afflictions. By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast! By sending yonder dark and terrible old man, to keep the torture always at red-heat! By bringing me hither, to die this death of triumphant ignominy before the people! Had either of these agonies been wanting, I had been lost for ever! Praised be his name! His will be done! Farewell!"
That final word came forth with the minister's expiring breath. The multitude, silent till then, broke out in a strange, deep voice of awe and wonder, which could not as yet find utterance, save in this murmur that rolled so heavily after the departed spirit.
Here, Dimmesdale is on the scaffold pouring his heart out to Hester about his true thoughts on the sinful relationship that they have attempted to maintain. He says that he and Hester "forgot [their] God" and basically denied their love for each other in front of everybody in front of God; this seemed to have caused fate's decision to deny any opportunity for their physical reunion. This section also possibly why Dimmesdale has been so sick lately; it describes a "burning torture... upon his breast" and how he "[kept] the torture always at red-heat." So not only did he somehow inflict injury to himself, but he did it continuously so the pain would never subside. He ends his life with his last words being praises to God.
This passage reveals the inner feelings that Dimmesdale had about the sins he committed with Hester; it is now apparent that he had true resentment for his actions and public denying of Hester. This segment of the novel discusses not only the true inner feelings of Dimmesdale, but also the probable cause of his diminishing health. His self inflicted wound over his heart caused his body to slowly fail, hence the habitual placing of his hand over his heart. This passage is unique because before, Dimmesdale showed signs of hope to Hester. He told her that he believed in what they were doing and that they could live happily ever after; yet, here, we see that it only caused more pain to Dimmesdale because he completely disagreed with their actions. This section then reveals the source of Dimmesdales diminishing health. To top it off, it is the death of this character whom brought the conflict of Hester to the forefront of the community. Now that Dimmesdale is deceased, Hester and Pearl will once again be on their own to fend for themselves. Hester will face new challenges and harder decisions concerning Hester. Also, now that Dimmesdale is gone, Chillingworth's life seems complete; all he wanted was for Dimmesdale to suffer and now that Dimmesdale is dead, his mission is complete. There is no where else for him to go. This shows that while people can seem innocent on the forefront of their daily lives, they are most probably hiding something that contains much deeper and a much different meaning than anyone could expect. Just because one person says something does not make it true.
"Left alone, the minister summoned a servant of the house, and requested food, which, being set before him, he ate with ravenous appetite. Then, flinging the already written pages of the Election Sermon into the fire, he forthwith began another, which he wrote with such an impulsive flow of thought and emotion, that he fancied himself inspired; and only wondered that Heaven should see fit to transmit the grand and solemn music of its oracles through so foul an organ-pipe as he. However, leaving that mystery to solve itself, or go unsolved for ever, he drove his task onward, with earnest haste and ecstasy. Thus the night fled away, as if it were a winged steed, and he careering on it; morning came, and peeped blushing through the curtains; and at last sunrise threw a golden beam into the study, and laid it right across the minister’s bedazzled eyes. There he was, with the pen still between his fingers, and a vast, immeasurable tract of written space behind him!"
This quote comes after Dimmesdale finally reaches home from the forest, where he was with Hester and Pearl. Dimmesdale has just spoken with Roger Chillingworth and both know the reason for the tension between them. Dimmesdale realized the plan has been broken and he is left alone with his Election Sermon sitting in front of him. Dimmesdale throws his first copy of the Election Sermon into the fire after eating ravenously and begins to write another one. He is amazed at the ability he has to write such a heavenly sermon after all that he has done in the past. This passage shows how passionate and free he has become when he realizes he has a way to free himself from Chillingworth's torture. This passage reaveals that Dimmesdale has a plan for the next day that may or may not be successful but either way he will release himself from Chillingworth's power over him.
“Come up hither, Hester, thou and little Pearl…Ye have both been here before, but I was not with you. Come up hither once again, and we will stand all three together!”
Dimmesdale here is coming very close to confessing that he is the father. He has the urge to confess, but then decides that not here during the day. Pearl now knows for sure that he is her father and she begins to wonder why he cannot confess to the towns people now? People are now all suspicious and Pearl begins to think that Dimmesdale is a coward until it is after he preaches his sermon when he attempts to confess to all the towns people.
I will be focusing on the passage where Dimmesdale is on the scaffold, scourging and holding long vigils. This particular passage reveals that Dimmesdale is, in fact, a good man, and feels truly guilty about his sin.
ReplyDelete"And thus, while standing on the scaffold, in this vain show of expiation, Mr. Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror of mind, as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart. On that spot, in very truth, there was, and there had long been, the gnawing and poisonous tooth of bodily pain. Without any effort of his will, or power to restrain himself, he shrieked aloud; an outcry that went pealing through the night, and was beaten back from one house to another, and reverberated from the hills in the background; as if a company of devils, detecting so much misery and terror in it, had made a plaything of the sound, and were bandying it to and fro." Dimmesdale attempts many times to confess his sin to the public, but cannot bring himself to do it. When he got close though, he was not pleased with himself. This passage is universal to the novel at large, because it eventually leads up to his actual confession at the Election Day Holiday. This one passage is very unique, because it does reveal so much about Dimmesdale's character. He understands when something should be done, and knows he needs to face the consequences. This passage might reveal that Hawthorne feels locked up about something. He may be wanted to release something to the public, but may not have the nerve to.
He is merciful! He hath proved his mercy, most of all, in my afflictions. By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast! By sending yonder dark and terrible old man, to keep the torture always at red-heat! By bringing me hither, to die this death of triumphant ignominy before the people! Had either of these agonies been wanting, I had been lost for ever! Praised be his name! His will be done! Farewell!"
ReplyDeleteThat final word came forth with the minister's expiring breath. The multitude, silent till then, broke out in a strange, deep voice of awe and wonder, which could not as yet find utterance, save in this murmur that rolled so heavily after the departed spirit.
This is the passage where Dimmesdale is on the scaffold, showing the town he is the man who was with Hester. It reveals that Dimmesdale, after 7 years of increasing weakness, was finally brave enough to show all his sin. His sin, which is present throughout the novel as the scarlet letter, was hidden under 7 years of lies. And on that day he finally snapped, and feebly walked up to the scaffold with Hester and their daughter, Pearl. The events here will shape the rest of story by Roger Chillingworth's death, Hester's mysterious disappearance and reappearance, and Hester's life. Since Dimmesdale delivered his wrong, the people are much nicer towards Hester, even coming for her council. Hawthorne is trying to say that even the holiest of men can sin, and will sin, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Puritan society is based off of lies and cannot be carried out perfectly is what Hawthorne is trying to say.
"But Arthur Dimmesdale! Were such a man once more to fall, what plea could be urged in extenuation of his crime? None; unless it avail him somewhat, that he was broken down by long and exquisite suffering; that his mind was darkened and confused by the very remorse which harrowed it; that, between fleeing as an avowed criminal, and remaining as a hypocrite, conscience might find it hard to strike the balance; that it was human to avoid the peril of death and infamy, and the inscrutable machinations of an enemy; that, finally, to this poor pilgrim, on his dreary and desert path, faint, sick, miserable, there appeared a glimpse of human affection and sympathy, a new life, and a true one, in exchange for the heavy doom which he was now expiating."
ReplyDeleteHester, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Pearl are in the forest and Hester has just announced to Mr. Dimmesdale that she will leave with him so that they can both escape their sin. He has not told anyone publicly of his sin yet, and he is contemplating on whether to flee town without admitting his sin or to stay living with it forever.
He is struggling with the fact that if he was to leave without admitting his sin he would be a "criminal" to the people, and once again having to live with another sin on his shoulders. And he also knows that if he stays he will be the "hypocrite" of the town; telling people to never sin when he has sinned worse then they will ever know. And he is fighting with God and the Devil.
This passage shows that Dimmesdale really doesn't want to have to live another lie, yet he knows that if he doesn't tell he will be prolonging his first sin. Dimmesdale knows that either way it would be humanly impossible to escape the jaws of death, whether he put it upon himself or the public execute him as a hypocrite. He wants whats best for the people and for his reputation, which may not be what is best for him in the end. Both God and the Devil are on his shoulders persuading him to sway one way or the other. Although he sees a light through the tunnel, that light being Hester and Pearl, he knows that either way their lives would not be made worse because they have nothing to lose; it would be his own life that was changed drastically because he is put on such a high pedastle in the town. This quote shows the effects of sin and how the consequences are larger than he ever imagined them to be. This shows Dimmesdale's struggle vividly. It shows how he was unsure of what to do even though he was so close to God and was a preacher of God's word. The internal conflict plays out in the final scenes of The Scarlet Letter when Dimmesdale decides to announce his sin to the public. Hawthorne showed this struggle because he wanted to get inside Dimmesdale's head and show the reader how difficult his decision was. Both had negative impacts and those heavy consequences are what sin leads to.
"Even in the grave-yard, here at hand," answered the physician, continuing his employment. "They are new to me. I found them growing on a grave, which bore no tombstone, no other memorial of the dead man, save these ugly weeds that have taken upon themselves to keep him in remembrance. They grew out of his heart, and typify, it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime."
ReplyDelete"Perchance," said Mr. Dimmesdale, "he earnestly desired it, but could not."
"And wherefore?" rejoined the physician. "Wherefore not; since all the powers of nature call so earnestly for the confession of sin, that these black weeds have sprung up out of a buried heart, to make manifest an outspoken crime?"
This passage comes during the turning point of Chillingworth's friendly actions to his torment of Dimmesdale. The weed is compared to a sin that the man died with, similar to how the prison was compared to a black flower earlier. Chillingworth is starting to figure out that Dimmesdale is the adulterer and is turning more devilish.
This passage is in stark contrast to Dimmesdale's dying words. Here, Dimmesdale is trying to make a case for the people who just could not confess, like himself. Chillingworth is trying to get Dimmesdale to confess. In the end, Dimmesdale decides to confess and dies, with Chillingworth trying to stop him. It is like the men have swapped viewpoints from this earlier passage.
"It must be even so," resumed the minister. "For, if we deem it otherwise, do we not thereby say that the Heavenly Father, the Creator of all flesh, hath lightly recognized a deed of sin, and made of no account the distinction between unhallowed lust and holy love? This child of its father's guilt and its mother's shame has come from the hand of God, to work in many ways upon her heart, who pleads so earnestly, and with such bitterness of spirit, the right to keep her. It was meant for a blessing; for the one blessing of her life! It was meant, doubtless, as the mother herself hath told us, for a retribution too; a torture, to be felt at many an unthought of moment; a pang, a sting, an ever-recurring agony, in the midst of a troubled joy! Hath she not expressed this thought in the garb of the poor child, so forcibly reminding us of that red symbol which sears her bosom?"
ReplyDeleteThis quote from Arthur Dimmsdale displays both his hypocritical side in which he desires to keep his sin a secret, but also an inward guilt and desire to atone for his sin. The Governor and another minister have just been discussing whether or not Pearl should be allowed to stay in Hester’s care or not, and Hester “by a sudden impulse” appeals to her pastor for help. His answer comes across to the men as very just and well thought out reason for Pearl to stay with Hester. While his answer was ell founded, he had other motives. He desired to some how relinquish some of his pain and guilt for his sin by giving Hester Pearl to keep, as well as show kindness to his daughter. He mentions how the child is both a product of her father’s sin as well as her mother’s, almost voicing his sin as if he truly desired to rush and embrace his family at this moment, well before he makes the truth known. He then goes on to explain how Pearl is both a blessing and a punishment, directly to Hester, but also indirectly to him. Her blessing is something that he wants to be able to enjoy, which is why he pleads for Hester’s cause, yet he also has insight into the torture Pearl brings, making this a viable punishment for Hester in the others’ eyes, as well as again hinting at his deeper connection.
This passage is one of the few scenes that truly show the minister’s struggle in view of society. Hawthorne allows the reader to enter into Dimmsdale’s mind and see the conflict there; however this scene gives us a view of just how difficult it was for Dimmsdale to go through each day with the weight of his sin. Hawthorne uses this scene to show Dimmsdale for how he appears to the town, truly caring and led by God to hand down decisions such as this one pertaining to Pearl, while also giving the reader a view of the connection between the three.
Hester Prynne remained constant in her resolve to make known to Mr. Dimmesdale, at whatever risk of present pain or ulterior consequences, the true character of the man who had crept into his intimacy. For several days, however, she vainly sought an opportunity of addressing him in some of the meditative walks which she knew him to be in the habit of taking, along the shores of the peninsula, or on the wooded hills of the neighbouring country. There would have been no scandal, indeed, nor peril to the holy whiteness of the clergyman's good fame, had she visited him in his own study; where many a penitent, ere now, had confessed sins of perhaps as deep a die as the one betokened by the scarlet letter. But, partly that she dreaded the secret or undisguised interference of old Roger Chillingworth, and partly that her conscious heart imparted suspicion where none could have been felt, and partly that both the minister and she would need the whole wide world to breathe in, while they talked together,--for all these reasons, Hester never thought of meeting him in any narrower privacy than beneath the open sky.
ReplyDeleteAt last, while attending in a sick-chamber, whither the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale had been summoned to make a prayer, she learnt that he had gone, the day before, to visit the Apostle Eliot, among his Indian converts. He would probably return, by a certain hour, in the afternoon of the morrow. Betimes, therefore, the next day, Hester took little Pearl,--who was necessarily the companion of all her mother's expeditions, however inconvenient her presence,--and set forth.
Austin Ward said...
ReplyDelete"…They grew out of his heart, and typify, it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime.” This passage reveals all the unconfessed sin Dimmesdale is holding back. He is holding in so much sin that he is becoming crazy. This quote touches on the whole idea of unconfessed sin in this novel. Everybody has sin they haven't told or they are trying to protect somebody else's secret. This passage is unique because it defines Dimmesdale. In this book his whole struggle is over the sin and this is revealing that struggle.Themes will play out by seeing if Dimmesdale will make it through the novel with this sin on his back. It also makes the reader curious to see if he will break down and snitch on Hester and himself. This passage shows that Hawthorne believes that people should confess their sins instead of holding them in. It also shows that the longer you hold it in the more it will make you crazy.
"In this manner, the mysterious old Roger Chillingworth became the medical adviser of the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale. As not only the disease interested the physician, but he was strongly moved to look into the character and qualities of the patient, these two men, so different in age, came gradually to spend much time together. For the sake of the minister's health, and to enable the leech to gather plants with healing balm in them, they took long walks on the seashore, or in the forest; mingling various talk with the plash and murmur of the waves, and the solemn wind-anthem among the tree-tops. Often, likewise, one was the guest of the other, in his place of study and retirement. There was a fascination for the minister in the company of the man of science, in whom he recognized an intellectual cultivation of no moderate depth or scope; together with a range and freedom of ideas, that he would have vainly looked for among the members of his own profession. In truth, he was startled, if not shocked, to find this attribute in the physician. Mr. Dimmesdale was a true priest, a true religionist, with the reverential sentiment largely developed, and an order of mind that impelled itself powerfully along the track of a creed, and wore its passage continually deeper with the lapse of time. In no state of society would he have been what is called a man of liberal views; it would always be essential to his peace to feel the pressure of a faith about him, supporting, while it confined him within its iron framework. Not the less, however, though with a tremulous enjoyment, did he feel the occasional relief of looking at the universe through the medium of another kind of intellect than those with which he habitually held converse. It was as if a window were thrown open, admitting a freer atmosphere into the close and stifled study, where his life was wasting itself away, amid lamp-light, or obstructed day-beams, and the musty fragrance, be it sensual or moral, that exhales from books. But the air was too fresh and chill to be long breathed, with comfort. So the minister, and the physician with him, withdrew again within the limits of what their church defined as orthodox."
ReplyDeleteThis passage in chapter nine is during Chillingworth's attachment to Dimmesdale, following Hester's appeal to keep Pearl.
Chillingworth was beginning his parasitic relationship with Dimmesdale, becoming his companion for medical reasons and his intellectual portal into other modes of life.
Dimmesdale was probably looking for other view points that would take a softer look at his sin of adultery. But it marks the beginning of Dimmesdale's torment caused by Chillingworth. This is the weakness that Chillingworth uses to enter Dimmesdale's psyche. Dimmesdale's trust of Chillingworth eventually leads to his demise upon the scaffold, for he would have reconciled his sin with himself if he had not been continually reminded by Chillingworth, and lived longer. Hawthorne could have been hinting that evil mascarades as a good thing to inter your life.
The old Roger Chillingworth became the medical adviser of the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale when they both realized that Mr.Dimmesdale was sick . As not only the disease interested the physician, he was strongly moved to look into the character and qualities of the patient, these two men, so different in age, came gradually to spend much time together. For the sake of the minister's health, and to enable the leech to gather plants with healing balm in them, they took long walks on the seashore, or in the forest; mingling various talk with the plash and murmur of the waves, and the solemn wind-anthem among the tree-tops. Often, likewise, one was the guest of the other, in his place of study and retirement. There was a fascination for the minister in the company of the man of science, in whom he recognized an intellectual cultivation of no moderate depth or scope; together with a range and freedom of ideas, that he would have vainly looked for among the members of his own profession. In truth, he was startled, if not shocked, to find this attribute in the physician. Mr. Dimmesdale was a true priest, a true religionist, with the reverential sentiment largely developed, and an order of mind that impelled itself powerfully along the track of a creed, and wore its passage continually deeper with the lapse of time. In no state of society would he have been what is called a man of liberal views; it would always be essential to his peace to feel the pressure of a faith about him, supporting, while it confined him within its iron framework. Not the less, however, though with a tremulous enjoyment, did he feel the occasional relief of looking at the universe through the medium of another kind of intellect than those with which he habitually held converse. It was as if a window were thrown open, admitting a freer atmosphere into the close and stifled study, where his life was wasting itself away, amid lamp-light, or obstructed day-beams, and the musty fragrance, be it sensual or moral, that exhales from books. But the air was too fresh and chill to be long breathed, with comfort. So the minister, and the physician with him, withdrew again within the limits of what their church defined as orthodox."
ReplyDeleteThis passage in chapter nine is during Chillingworth's attachment to Dimmesdale, following Hester's appeal to keep Pearl.
Chillingworth was beginning his parasitic relationship with Dimmesdale, becoming his companion for medical reasons and his intellectual portal into other modes of life.
Dimmesdale was probably looking for other view points that would take a softer look at his sin of adultery. But it marks the beginning of Dimmesdale's torment caused by Chillingworth. This is the weakness that Chillingworth uses to enter Dimmesdale's psyche. Dimmesdale's trust of Chillingworth eventually leads to his demise upon the scaffold, for he would have reconciled his sin with himself if he had not been continually reminded by Chillingworth, and lived longer. Hawthorne could have been hinting that evil mascarades as a good thing to inter your life.
"But Arthur Dimmesdale! Were such a man once more to fall, what plea could be urged in extenuation of his crime? None; unless it avail him somewhat, that he was broken down by long and exquisite suffering; that his mind was darkened and confused by the very remorse which harrowed it; that, between fleeing as an avowed criminal, and remaining as a hypocrite, conscience might find it hard to strike the balance; that it was human to avoid the peril of death and infamy, and the inscrutable machinations of an enemy; that, finally, to this poor pilgrim, on his dreary and desert path, faint, sick, miserable, there appeared a glimpse of human affection and sympathy, a new life, and a true one, in exchange for the heavy doom which he was now expiating."
ReplyDeleteThis quote is made from the narrator when Dimmesdale and Hester are meeting in the forrest. Hester has just told Dimmesdale that he will not go to England by himself, that she and Pearl will go with him. What this quote reveals about the character Reverend Dimmesdale is that in his mind, the act of running away with Hester and Pearl back to England could be described as trading the miserable life that he is currently physically and psychologically living, in for a more peace of mind lifestyle. The issues that this quote touches on is the mindset that humans often have, that if we run away from things that are hurting us, and are tempted to ignore subjects that are required to be faced, then our lives wil end up better than the ones we have at present. This quote is important because it shows that Dimmesdale is willing to demolish his reputation in New England as a highly respectable preecher and attempt to run away from his inner demons, who are constantly attacking him and his hidden secret. Dimmesdale continues to long for when Hester, Pearl, and himself sail of for England, untill the Elction Day sermon. He realizes that only if he confeses to everyone what he did as open as Hester did seven years before, could he truly be at peace. I think that Hawthorne's view and purpose of this passage in the Scarlet Letter was to show his readers the possible consequences of what a hidden secret is capable of, if not addressed publically.
"Such was the sympathy of Nature-that wild, heathen Nature of the forest, never subjugated by human law, nor illumined by higher truth-with the bliss of these two spirits! Love, whether newly born, or aroused from a deathlike slumber, must always create a sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance that it overflows upon the outward world. Had the forest still kept its gloom, it would have been bright in Hester's eyes, and bright in Arthur Dimmesdale's!"
ReplyDeleteDimsdale is a rule follower. He is also a man of his word he tries to hide his sin but then it haunts him and it seems to always follaw in his footsteps.
It shows what a real man he is. It shows how inside he wants to get close to pearl but doesnt want to get to close to pearl that cold hurt her in any way.
Dimsdale repents his sins. He had been keeping it to him all along and tries to hide it but it wont go away and he figures that out and tells the trouth to everone.
That he is a man of his own word and nothing will get in the way of his life even the things that seem to haunt him.
"Hush, Hester, hush!" said he, with tremulous solemnity. "The law we broke!--the sin here so awfully revealed!--let these alone be in thy thoughts! I fear! I fear! It may be, that, when we forgot our God,--when we violated our reverence each for the other's soul,--it was thenceforth vain to hope that we could meet hereafter, in an everlasting and pure reunion. God knows; and He is merciful! He hath proved his mercy, most of all, in my afflictions. By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast! By sending yonder dark and terrible old man, to keep the torture always at red-heat! By bringing me hither, to die this death of triumphant ignominy before the people! Had either of these agonies been wanting, I had been lost for ever! Praised be his name! His will be done! Farewell!"
ReplyDeleteThat final word came forth with the minister's expiring breath. The multitude, silent till then, broke out in a strange, deep voice of awe and wonder, which could not as yet find utterance, save in this murmur that rolled so heavily after the departed spirit.
Here, Dimmesdale is on the scaffold pouring his heart out to Hester about his true thoughts on the sinful relationship that they have attempted to maintain. He says that he and Hester "forgot [their] God" and basically denied their love for each other in front of everybody in front of God; this seemed to have caused fate's decision to deny any opportunity for their physical reunion. This section also possibly why Dimmesdale has been so sick lately; it describes a "burning torture... upon his breast" and how he "[kept] the torture always at red-heat." So not only did he somehow inflict injury to himself, but he did it continuously so the pain would never subside. He ends his life with his last words being praises to God.
This passage reveals the inner feelings that Dimmesdale had about the sins he committed with Hester; it is now apparent that he had true resentment for his actions and public denying of Hester.
This segment of the novel discusses not only the true inner feelings of Dimmesdale, but also the probable cause of his diminishing health. His self inflicted wound over his heart caused his body to slowly fail, hence the habitual placing of his hand over his heart.
This passage is unique because before, Dimmesdale showed signs of hope to Hester. He told her that he believed in what they were doing and that they could live happily ever after; yet, here, we see that it only caused more pain to Dimmesdale because he completely disagreed with their actions. This section then reveals the source of Dimmesdales diminishing health. To top it off, it is the death of this character whom brought the conflict of Hester to the forefront of the community.
Now that Dimmesdale is deceased, Hester and Pearl will once again be on their own to fend for themselves. Hester will face new challenges and harder decisions concerning Hester. Also, now that Dimmesdale is gone, Chillingworth's life seems complete; all he wanted was for Dimmesdale to suffer and now that Dimmesdale is dead, his mission is complete. There is no where else for him to go.
This shows that while people can seem innocent on the forefront of their daily lives, they are most probably hiding something that contains much deeper and a much different meaning than anyone could expect. Just because one person says something does not make it true.
"Left alone, the minister summoned a servant of the house, and requested food, which, being set before him, he ate with ravenous appetite. Then, flinging the already written pages of the Election Sermon into the fire, he forthwith began another, which he wrote with such an impulsive flow of thought and emotion, that he fancied himself inspired; and only wondered that Heaven should see fit to transmit the grand and solemn music of its oracles through so foul an organ-pipe as he. However, leaving that mystery to solve itself, or go unsolved for ever, he drove his task onward, with earnest haste and ecstasy. Thus the night fled away, as if it were a winged steed, and he careering on it; morning came, and peeped blushing through the curtains; and at last sunrise threw a golden beam into the study, and laid it right across the minister’s bedazzled eyes. There he was, with the pen still between his fingers, and a vast, immeasurable tract of written space behind him!"
ReplyDeleteThis quote comes after Dimmesdale finally reaches home from the forest, where he was with Hester and Pearl. Dimmesdale has just spoken with Roger Chillingworth and both know the reason for the tension between them. Dimmesdale realized the plan has been broken and he is left alone with his Election Sermon sitting in front of him.
Dimmesdale throws his first copy of the Election Sermon into the fire after eating ravenously and begins to write another one. He is amazed at the ability he has to write such a heavenly sermon after all that he has done in the past.
This passage shows how passionate and free he has become when he realizes he has a way to free himself from Chillingworth's torture. This passage reaveals that Dimmesdale has a plan for the next day that may or may not be successful but either way he will release himself from Chillingworth's power over him.
“Come up hither, Hester, thou and little Pearl…Ye have both been here before, but I was not with you. Come up hither once again, and we will stand all three together!”
ReplyDeleteDimmesdale here is coming very close to confessing that he is the father. He has the urge to confess, but then decides that not here during the day. Pearl now knows for sure that he is her father and she begins to wonder why he cannot confess to the towns people now? People are now all suspicious and Pearl begins to think that Dimmesdale is a coward until it is after he preaches his sermon when he attempts to confess to all the towns people.