... the information he seeks. Chillingworth's character changes from Hawthorne's portrayal of a venerable and benevolent man to a manipulative and selfish individual. Chillingworth becomes the Reverend's "leech" that uses his intuition to sense a great burden in Dimmesdale's soul. This physician comments on the importance of revealing one's sins in order to accept the blame and rid of a burden that may cause ... of his name, giving the chills to Reverend Dimmesdale as he plots his imminently fatalistic plan glimpsed in the closing events of this chapter. Hawthorne goes into great depth to des...

• Word Count: 699
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... literary techniques to emphasize the reconciliations of their characters. The writers use John Proctor and Arthur Dimmesdale as pawns to illustrate the happy endings through moral reconciliation and spiritual reassessment. Arthur Dimmesdale is a pastor for the Puritan church in New England, where Hawthorne sets up the novel. Dimmesdale's situation is one of ultimate situational irony; he is supposed to be an innocent, pure ... minister, yet he hides a sinful secret. He is an adulterer and the father of an illegitimate child. Dimmesdale's sin makes him a better minister, ... sin, but she...

• Word Count: 835
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... text, pick out at least three places from the first half of the novel (through "The Leech") that lead the reader to believe what is ultimately true: that Arthur Dimmesdale has a very big secret. Hawthorne gives the reader subtle hints throughout the first half of the novel that may lead to the identification of Hester's lover and Pearl's father ... , Arthur Dimmesdale, before he publicly announces his true identity near the end of the novel. Evidence of such hints is found as early in the novel as the third chapter, "The Recognition." Reverend Dimmesdale opens conversation, pressing Hest...

• Word Count: 582
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In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale commits adultery with Hester Prynne. The townspeople find out about Hester, but she doesn't tell anyone that Dimmesdale was involved. Since the townspeople knew Hester committed adultery she had to wear a scarlet "A" on her chest and went through public humiliation. The townspeople didn't even suspect Dimmesdale of committing any kind of sin. To the ... townspeople Reverend Dimmesdale is the holiest and most perfect person in the town. I believe that Dimmesdale was unwilling to take responsibility for his crime ...

• Word Count: 391
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

"Life is hard, but accepting that fact makes it easier." this common phrase has been proven true in many people's lives, but is also a harsh fact that Boston's Rev. Dimmesdale, a key character in Nathaniel Hawthorne's the Scarlet Letter, had to face. In this twisted story of deception and adultery set in the Puritan era, Hawthorne introduces Dimmesdale as a weak and cowardly man who refuses to take responsibility for his actions. Yet, he transitions to a person who accepts his sins and the consequences, before it is too late, ultimately finding happiness. At the beginning of the novel, Dimmesd...

• Word Count: 882
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... main character in Nathaniel Hawthorne's tale of "The Scarlet Letter", the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is confronted with circumstances both in and out of his control, that lead to his demise. Even though it can be argued that Reverend Dimmesdale is a tragic hero, he lacks the strength and underlying goodness essential ... for him to fulfill this role. With such discrepancies it is easier for me to argue that the Reverend is not the tragic hero that some believe. Arthur Dimmesdale, a minister, lives his life under the watchful yet admiring eye of the townspeople of Boston and, as a result...

• Word Count: 2932
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

... . He makes Hester promise that she won't reveal his identity to anyone. The book covers a seven year period during which the identity of the father becomes known. It is the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, who is renowned as an especially holy and pious man. Wracked by guilt he starts to show outward signs of serious illness. Hester's husband under the assumed name Roger Chillingworth ... John Wilson, the eldest clergyman of Boston and a great scholar of his contemporaries in the profession, as the person of Reverend Clergyman to persuade and exhort Hester Prune to repentance, and to confessi...

• Word Count: 2453
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... . During the seventeenth century, in Puritan New England, a sin was looked upon as merely a sin with no context to the causes or effects of someone's actions. The actions of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne were done for the soulful purpose of love; however Puritan's society looked down upon Hester Prynne for the actions of her sins. Throughout the novel there are ... for adultery. Although Hester Prynne could not deny the guiltiness of her sin, for she was with child, her partner, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, could not face the consequences of confessing to such a sin amongst ...

• Word Count: 1213
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... reveal that he is her long lost husband, but swear that he will find and seek revenge on the father of this baby. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and his friend John Wilson are introduced at the scaffold begging Hester to reveal the father of the baby so that he may suffer just ... . Ironically, it turns out that Arthur Dimmesdale was the father of the baby and he and Hester knew it. Roger Chillingworth who was a physician as well as Hester's husband, moves in with Reverend Dimmesdale because Dimmesdale was growing sick. While staying with Dimmesdale, he grows suspicious that Dimmesdale is th...

• Word Count: 2338
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are many characters that transform; one of them is Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale committed a great sin of the puritan society, he slept with another mans wife and Hester Prynne became pregnant. Hester was punished for her sin but Arthur Dimmesdale had not admitted to it, so he lives with this guilt and it is much worst for him ... , perchance, hath not the courage to grasp it for himself--the bitter, but wholesome, cup that is now presented to thy lips!" (Page 65) This is the first scaffold scene Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is n...

• Word Count: 1308
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... , however Randall Stewart has presented an argument that suggesur Dimmesdale as the Protagonist of the story. Hester Prynn is the character that the story focuses on, more then any other character. She is the mother of her only daughter, Pearl, who was conceived in sin with the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Arthur Dimmesdale is the reverend of the small puritan society, and Hester's partner in ... sin. This also makes him Pearls Father. It most certainly appears that Arthur Dimmesdale is not the protagonist, but Hester Prynn plays this role. These two leading-role characters may have some ...

• Word Count: 855
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Letter suffered immensely for her sin as an adulteress, and her child from this sin, Pearl, suffered as well. But none suffered as did the secret father of Pearl, Arthur Dimmesdale, the town reverend who kept his secret bottled inside for seven years. The torment he endured from Roger Chillingworth, Hester's anonymous husband, caused the destruction of his character and inevitable death. The ... as to the identity of the father of her child. He states that he would prefer to have the minister of her parish Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, inquire as to the identity of the father, but Arthur ...

• Word Count: 1460
• Approx Pages: 6

... up with a child instead. Chillingworth remarks that the man who was her partner in the crime of adultery will eventually be known. The Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale is exhorted to make Hester tell the gathered crowd who the father is. She refuses and instead tells him that she will bear his ... . When the Governor approaches, Pearl falls excitedly falls silent. Chapter Eight: The Elf-Child and the Minister Summary Governor Bellingham, accompanied by the Reverend John Wilson, Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth, enters the hall of his mansion. He first sees Pearl, dressed lavishly in her s...

• Word Count: 5572
• Approx Pages: 22
• Grade Level: High School

... ; there was a single man who was mostly responsible for her appearance. This brings the second part of community influence into play, family. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is the man who was mostly responsible for Hester's somber cast. Hester did not reveal Reverend Dimmesdale as her companion in the adulterous act at first. Her reason for not doing this can be debated; she did not want her ... she was like any other young child, rambunctious, imaginative and playful, not devilish or hateful. Most of the labeling can be related to the strict faith of the Puritan town. Reverend Arthur Dimmes...

• Word Count: 4111
• Approx Pages: 16
• Grade Level: High School

Arthur Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is considered a very honorable person by almost everyone in the Puritan town. Practically no one would believe that he would have the ability to do any evil, much less the sin of adultery. On the contrary, Dimmesdale feels that he is a terrible person for ... to come about with more intensifying sermons. Adversely to the common opinion of the townspeople, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is not very honorable and does not deserve any praise whatsoever. In fact, he is a coward. Dimmesdale is not courageous enough to tell the town t...

• Word Count: 676
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... scenes, Hester Prynne stands alone under direct scrutiny from the public. By the second of such scenes, the story is in the middle of its development, and the guilt of Arthur Dimmesdale has fully developed. Though he is unable to confess to the townspeople, he tries to soothe some of his inner pain by revealing his secret to the night. It is ... anguish of his life had returned upon him - (137). Though she is but a young little girl, Pearl illuminates the limited nature of Dimmesdale's confession, and she solidifies his inability to reveal himself to the town. Examining Hester Prynne, A...

• Word Count: 1627
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... toiled over the same ground, only two days before." Throughout this story, the character of Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale possesses a weak and feeble personality, but in this passage, immediately following his conversation in the woods with Hester, Mr. Dimmesdale acts completely out of character, "leap[ing] across the plashy places," and using " ... much of my focus on this idea of the path and its difficulty. Reading about the joy of the Reverend in this passage hurts, in my opinion, because the reader knows what Arthur does not, that this will not work out. Whatever he does, whether he goes ...

• Word Count: 1256
• Approx Pages: 5

... upon themselfs as punishment. The harsh rules are apt to bring on sins in the novel The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The sin of adultery affects Hester Prynne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, as well as the Physician Roger Chillingsworth. After Hester was convicted of adultery, she is forced to wear the scarlet letter "A" upon her breast for everyone to see. ... a stronger-willed person. After many years, she earned the respect of many Puritans through her craftsmen work and sincerity of her silence; unlike her partner, and Pearls father, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Addit...

• Word Count: 462
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... reveal their secrets, thus showing some similarities (as well as differences) between the good and evil portrayed in the story. Arthur Dimmesdale, by and large, was represented goodness and purity in the story. The entire town revered him and he was a highly respected Reverend.   Also, he was generally esteemed for the "holy and pious" life that he led, and the fact that he ... , they were slightly afraid of him, because of the devilish look about him, and surely he was shunned after it was discovered what he had been doing to the good Reverend Dimmesdale for all those years.   Secondl...

• Word Count: 1430
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... people and objects and makes them symbolic of events and thoughts. Throughout the course of the book, Hawthorne uses Hester, Pearl, and Arthur Dimmesdale to signify and contrast both the Puritanical and Romantic philosophies. Hester Prynne, as seen by Puritanism is an extreme sinner; she has gone ... ) Pearl had a knack of fitting in with natural things. Puritanism puts all of its stock in the religious leader of the community; Arthur Dimmesdale was the Religious leader of the community where the story takes place. The reader soon discovers hates himself and must physically inflict pain ...

• Word Count: 2043
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... at home on her chest. The next character that helps show identity in society is Mr. Dimmesdale. However unlike Hester his identity in society helped him, due to the fact that he is a reverend and is seen by the townspeople as a very holy man and is never suspected to be ... on the platform questioning Hester when she was put on the platform for ridicule during which someone yelled out "People say, " said another, "that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor, takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon his congregation." (90) This shows the reade...

• Word Count: 1923
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography

In the novel, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale has committed the sin of adultery with Hester Prynne. The story begins with Hester coming out of a jail and being put on the ... cursed child in hand. The town is ashamed at her for this horrible act but they do not know who she has committed the crime with. Ironically, Reverend Dimmesdale asks Hester "who she has committed the sin with?", but luckily for him she refused to answer. Now, all the town shame and punishment is placed upon ... which he had done better to confess during his lifetime." In this Roger ...

• Word Count: 735
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... -punishment. The sin begins to gnaw away at his sanity. As forms of penance he engages in late night vigils, starvation, and very severe self-mutilations. Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Arthur Dimmesdale has many opportunities to acknowledge his wrongdoing. He could have confessed during the first scaffold scene as Hester stood in front of the townspeople ... not been able to openly admit his horrible sin, it tortures him from the inside preventing him from repenting his sin. The respect given to Arthur Dimmesdale for being of high social standard in his society was an honor that ended u...

• Word Count: 898
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... life. Pearl's wit and perception, even at three years old, lead many to believe her father to be the Devil. Only Hester knows the real truth; Arthur Dimmesdale, the reverend, is Pearl's father. Because she committed adultery, Hester represents everything dark and sinful, whereas the young gorgeous Pearl represents everything light and beautiful. Hawthorne uses contrasting symbols ... symbiotic relationship, eventually concluding in Chillingworth dying soon after the reverend. Eventually, Chillingworth becomes so infatuated with Dimmesdale's suffering that he himself suffers if Dimmesdal...

• Word Count: 803
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... chapters of the novel signifies that Hester will not reveal the identity of Pearl's father. The Reverend Wilson demands that Hester reveal the name of the father, but she refuses to say. Believing that Hester's pastor could discover the name of Pearl's father, Reverend Wilson asks the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale to speak with Hester. She refuses to state the name of Pearl's father ... . Dimmesdale, relieved, responds: "Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman's heart! She will not speak!" (Hawthorne 66). Hawthorne later reveals that ... Arthur Dimmesdale is Hester's lover and the fath...

• Word Count: 1429
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School