Ratzinger, Joseph. Catechism of the Catholic Church. 5th Edition New York: Alba House

Arthur Dimmesdale is passionate about his religion and is devoted to God. His suffering is the direct result of his inability to disclose his failing. The only character that is a true Puritan in practice, he is unsure of his soul’s obtainment of heaven. Puritans did not believe good works or living morally earned salvation. These early Puritans followed the beliefs of John Calvin, a Protestant French reformer. Puritans believed all men were evil and sinful because of the fall of Adam and Eve. Most Puritans were convinced of punishment in hell. The few that were “elect” were people chosen by God for salvation. Dimmersdale was looking for evidence that he was one of God’s “elect” instead of part of the rest who would be damned eternally known as the “unregenerate.”

The Reverend Dimmesdale, a "saintly young minister who is the leader of those extorting Hester to name Pearls father"(Darrel 1) conceals his secret of himself being the true father of Pearl. While Dimmesdale tries in one way to conceal his secret that he is the father he on the other hand tries to have someone notice that he is in fact the other sinner. While concealing his sin from the town Dimmesdale's physical and mental heath slowly begins to deteriorate because of the guilt that he holds inside. Dimmesdales conditions also worsen because of Chillingworth succeeding in “becoming a daily and often hourly irritant to Dimmesdale’s already sensitive conscience”(Gerber 3). Dimmesdale's actions in the novel are all exaggerated greatly because Hawthorne portrays him, like Hester and the other characters, as a romantic figure. As a romantic figure Dimmesdale is highly emotional which is the reason for his self-punishment which is caused by his sin.

London: W. W. Norton and Company, 1988. 283-291

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