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 is disinclined to query that information. Arthur feels "that it were wronging the very nature of woman to force her to lay open her heart's secrets in such broad daylight, and in presence of so great multitude." Here is the first presentation of Hawthorne's idea in regard to private versus public sin. Dimmesdale argues that it is not fair that Hester's secret be revealed to all, even though he makes a weak attempt to persuade her to reveal her accomplice in this moral crime. However, although not revealed this early in the novel, Arthur has an ulterior motive for not wishing Hester to reveal the father in public, for the fact stands that he is the father of Pearl. Cleary, this shows that for a sin of this magnitude, the privacy of the home and a select few is the best way to handle the situation. Had Hester revealed Arthur as her fellow sinner in this most heinous crime, Hester's punishment could have been reconsidered, which could have put both of them to death. It was in the best interest of everyone involved in any way for Hester to keep her secret buried for the time being and to let the dust settle on the fact that she had committed this sin to begin with. Although she was publicly recognized for her sin and wears the scarlet A as an everlasting symbol that she is an adulteress, the elements of the sin must be kept private. This is the first time that Hawthorne deals with private and public sin, and clearly here he shows that, although entertaining for those watching the ordeal, the details of a sin of this enormity cannot and should not be revealed in public. .
Seven years pass, and still Arthur Dimmesdale has not come forth to declare his partnership in Hester's sin. Arthur has been in severely declining health brought on by the emotional torment he suffers from not forthcoming with the information concerning himself and Hester.