Arthur Dimmesdale

Arthur

Saintly, Handsome, Wise, Brilliant Speaker

Father of Pearl

Lover of Hester, Lover of God

Who feels guilt for his sins, that he locks in his heart, Who feels pain in his heart, that he holds throughout the day.

Who needs medical help from Chillingworth, Who needs to do penance for his sin.

Who fears the community will find out about his sin, Who fears Pearl will not love him.

Who accomplished giving powerful speeches that inspired his community.

Who would like to see God’s will be done, and that someday he will be joined with Hester.

Resident of Boston

Dimmesdale

In the beginning of the book Hawthorne didn't give us many details about Dimmesdales character. The only clues we got was how he acted while he was talking to Hester on the scaffold and that he was a minister of the town. After we read the first part we were indifferent about his character because we didn't know much about him. In the middle of the book we learned that he was the unknown father of Pearl. We were so shocked! We would have never guessed that he would be her father. We were confused about why Dimmesdale wouldn't come out in the beginning but we kept reading and found out that he didn't want his job as a minister to be jeopardized. In the end we were enraged that he didn't face as much public humiliation as Hester did during the seven years. We were also heartbroken that Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale never made it out of Boston to start their new lives as one big happy family. Amen.

Arthur Dimmesdale

By: Bethany Wilson and Alex Schneider

Quotes

Bio Poem

Personal Reaction

Role in the Novel

Chapter 12

Chapter 17

Chapter 3

“At the great judgment day,” whispered the minister—and, strangely enough, the sense that he

was a professional teacher of truth impelled him to answer the child so. “Then, and there, before

the judgment seat, thy mother, and thou, and I, must stand together. But the daylight of this

world shall not see our meeting!”

I think that Dimmesdale is conflicted on when or where would be the right time to tell the townspeople that he is Pearl’s father. For now he is just telling Pearl and Hester that they should continue to keep it a secret and that they were never in the forest talking together in the first place and it will still be a secret until they die. This quote is very captivating and it makes you wonder what Pearl was thinking when he told her this since she is just a little girl. Even though Pearl is smart for her age I would think that as a child meeting the minister in the forest and then him telling her that they would meet again all together on the judgment day could be very bothersome. I would think that he was a strange man also.

"The judgment of God is on me," answered the conscience-stricken priest. "It is too mighty for me to struggle with!"

Dimmesdale is in the forest with Hester and they are talking about their future and Pearl. The whole time Dimmesdale knows that God will lead them in the right direction. God is leading Dimmesdale in every part of his life and Dimmesdale realizes this. He also understands that all of it is out of his hands, and to mighty for him to try and change. Dimmesdale knows that in the end God is with him every step of the way guiding him in every aspect.

"Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for, believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to hide a guilty heart through life.”

This is a part of Dimmesdale’s speech to Hester trying to convince her to confess the father of her child. The ironic part is that he’s the husband. Dimmesdale tells Hester that she doesn’t have to undergo public humiliation alone; all she has to do is confess the father. Hester is told not to hide the father instead it would help him. The father wouldn’t have to feel guilty for his sin; he can come out now and do his penance. Dimmesdale does a good job of hiding that he’s the father while he tries to pressure Hester to confess.

Chapter 17

Chapter 3

"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!"

Dimmesdale tells Hester that all of the sin he has is building up inside him, and he must contain in himself. He’s jealous and wishes that he could display the “A” on his chest just like Hester does every day. No one knows except for Hester, Pearl, and Chillingworth of his secret. Dimmesdale can finally open up to someone who understands him, which is Hester, and he tells her everything he’s going through. Seven years have gone by, and this is one of the only times he can relax. He gets to be with someone who understands him and everything he is going through.

"At the great judgment day," whispered the minister--and strangely enough, the sense that he was a professional teacher of truth impelled him to answer the child so. "Then, and there, before the judgment seat, thy mother, and thou, and I, must stand together. But the daylight of this world shall not see our meeting!"

I think that Dimmesdale is conflicted on when or where would be the right time to tell the townspeople that he is Pearl’s father. For now he is just telling Pearl and Hester that they should continue to keep it a secret and that they were never in the forest talking together in the first place and it will still be a secret until they die. This quote is very captivating and it makes you wonder what Pearl was thinking when he told her this since she is just a little girl. Even though Pearl is smart for her age I would think that as a child meeting the minister in the forest and then him telling her that they would meet again all together on the judgment day could be very bothersome. I would think that he was a strange man also.

“Think for me Hester! Thou art strong. Resolve for me!”

I found myself remembering that many times in the book he refers to Hester as his strength. I think it is a little strange that she is his strength just because you would think it would be the other way around but really when you reflect on how weak he has gotten and how strong and determined Hester has been on not letting the “A” condemn her life forever then it really does make sense. Hester has been extremely tenacious and has not let the comments of other wear her down over the past 7 years and has looked at life in a positive way where Dimmesdale has had to live with an unknown secret and a wonder as to when he will be able to admit the truth.

Dimmesdale is a highly respected clergyman in the community of Boston. People claim him to be a "saint on earth." He has a powerful speaking voice that can draw in the listener. He is wise and very studious. Dimmesdale has sinned, but has not confessed it like the Puritan religion encourages. He has committed adultery with Hester and now has a daughter named Pearl. His name describes the way he handles his sin, for he his dim and doesn't open up to very many people. He's timid and shy. He holds many devotionals and inflicts punishments on himself. He holds his heart for a pain is inside it, and wears an "A" on his chest underneath all of his clothes.

Chapter 23

Chapter 17

Chapter 12

"Nay; not so, my little Pearl!" answered the minister; for, with the new energy of the moment, all the dread of public exposure, that had so long been the anguish of his life, had returned upon him; and he was already trembling at the conjunction in which—with a strange joy, nevertheless—he now found himself. "Not so, my child, I shall, indeed, stand with thy mother thee one other day, but not tomorrow!"

Pearl wants from Dimmesdale to be publicly recognized and acknowledged that he’s her daughter. They are standing on the scaffold holding hands late at night and Pearl asks if Dimmesdale will stand with them tomorrow. Dimmesdale is so used to hiding that Pearl is his daughter that he says, someday he will, but not tomorrow. Dimmesdale is going crazy from the guilt that is locked up inside him, that he almost lets it all out there and tells everyone of his sin. In this second, he snaps back to reality and realizes that he can’t. He has to compose himself in order to not give away his secret.

"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 forever! Praised be his name! His will be done! Farewell!"

These are Dimmesdale’s dying words to Hester. Dimmesdale on his death bed is hoping that God will forgive everything he has done wrong and grant him mercy. Dimmesdale feels at peace that finally he is enduring the humiliation and penance of his sin. Dying on the scaffold, Dimmesdale knows that this is how everything was supposed to end. Dying on the scaffold and finally embracing the public humiliation, Dimmesdale praises God’s name till his death.

"We are not, Hester, the worst sinners in the world. There is one worse than even the polluted priest! That old man's revenge has been blacker than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart. Thou and I, Hester, never did so!"

Dimmesdale just found out that Chillingworth has spent all of their time together watching him, like a jealous husband would. Chillingworth is drove mad by seeking revenge on the soul of Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale compares his sin of adultery to Chillingworth’s sin of revenge. Dimmesdale says that torturing a soul of another and capturing his heart is a much greater sin than adultery. Even though Dimmesdale preaches to speak the truth and always be honest, he refers to himself as the polluted priest. He doesn’t act by in the words he preaches.