Arthur Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter

Arthur Dimmesdale was a very important character in The Scarlet Letter. He encountered many problems and resolved them throughout the novel. He changes a lot throughout the novel, physical and mentally. While reading the novel, the reader can relate to Dimmesdale by his actions and feelings. Minister Arthur Dimmesdale explains the moral of the story, and helps the reader understand what the novel is about. First, Dimmesdale encountered many problems throughout the story. These problems were very important because the reader can relate to them. The most important problem Dimmesdale had to go through was guilt. Whether it was guilt from committing a sin, or guilt from keeping the sin a secret, guilt was the biggest problem Dimmesdale had to …show more content…
While Dimmesdale suffered from guilt and sin, his appearance and mental state changed negatively. In the excerpt Characters in The Scarlet Letter from Nathaniel Hawthorne: The Man, His Tales and Romances by Edward Wagenknecht, “He eats voraciously and writes furiously, expending his mental and physical energies as recklessly as if he were never to need them again, which, as it turns out, he did not.” (Wagenknecht 68). This quote explains how he mentally changed while suffering from guilt. He became miserable, depressed, angry, and quiet. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne states, “Far and deep in its own region, busying itself, with preternatural activity, to marshal a procession of stately thoughts, that were soon to issue thence; and so he saw nothing, heard nothing, knew nothing of what was around him; but the spiritual element took up the feeble frame and carried it along, unconscious of the burden, and converting it to spirit like itself.” (Hawthorne 263). Dimmesdale spiritually changed, becoming insane. He starved himself, beat himself, and didn’t sleep. Yet he still continued to keep his sin a …show more content…
Everyone in their life goes through guilt and regret, and may have things in common with Dimmesdale. In the excerpt The Characters Reveal the Story’s Meaning from Hawthorne: A Critical Study by Hyatt H. Waggoner, he states “He first descends from his original position as the saintly guide and inspiration of the novel as very nearly the worst of the sinners in his hypocrisy and cowardice.” (Waggoner 74). Readers can learn from Dimmesdale in many ways. From reading the novel, they can see how much damage regret and guilt causes. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne states the moral of the story, “Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!” (Hawthorne 286). This quote tells you to be true to yourself and be you. Dimmesdale is a perfect example of this, because he wasn’t true to himself and ended up paying a huge price for his guilt. Everyone knows that lying is a sin, and can have major consequences. Even if you tell your secret, you can still feel guilt after the fact. Dimmesdale is a very relatable character, and readers can understand him the most, as well as learn from him throughout the