path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” - George Lucas. Hester’s sin of adultery destroyed both men- Dimmesdale by guilt and Chillingworth by revenge. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Chillingworth's vengeance was the cause of Dimmesdale's death. Chillingworth hated Dimmesdale because he took Hester from him and left her to deal with the consequences of their sin alone. What should have been a warm and loving homecoming after being
Words: 618 - Pages: 3
for theft. In The Scarlet Letter, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is affected by the secret of his adultery with Hester Prynne, that he must keep hidden. This secrecy has affected Dimmesdale, from him having a mental break down and punishing himself to him constantly being weak and lethargic. Overall, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, presents the negative impact of secrecy on the physical and spiritual state of the character Arthur Dimmesdale, who is forced by society to keep his secret hidden
Words: 651 - Pages: 3
The Scarlet Letter summaries. Chapter 1 This chapter somewhat introduces seventeenth-century Boston, where a group of gloomy, sad Puritans stand in front of an old prison in Boston, which seems to be a horrible and degrading place. By the descriptions given (heavy oak door, with spikes) it sounds like the prison is meant to keep and hold deadly murderers and ax murderers. The area around the prison is gray and gloomy. Decay and ugliness are in the author's descriptions, the only thing that sticks
Words: 3834 - Pages: 16
adulterous affair (but compare the plot of Fielding's Tom Jones). But Hawthorne was not concerned with a prurient affair here, though the novel’s characters are. Hawthorne chose to leave out the details of the adulterous rendezvous between Hester and Dimmesdale entirely. Instead, he was concerned with the aftermath of the affair--the shaming of Hester, the raising of a child borne of sin, and the values of a society that would allow a sin to continue to be punished long after it would seem reasonable.
Words: 4546 - Pages: 19
reaction to Dimmesdale and Hester’s decision to leave Puritan society: “as if the gloom of the earth and sky had been but the effluence of these two mortal hearts, it vanished with their sorrows.” While nature’s reaction to their decision is positive, Hawthorne doesn’t quite seem to share these feelings. In fact, the author’s implication of Hawthorne’s use of pathetic fallacy contradicts his own argument. If Hawthorne were using pathetic fallacy, then by describing the light shining on Dimmesdale as “flickering
Words: 1049 - Pages: 5
one.” (Hawthorne 47). We later learn that the father is Arthur Dimmesdale, and this lack of communication cause a barrier between them. Her refusal consequently denies any hope of reconciliation between the two for an extensive period. Hester also conceals that Roger Chillingworth is her husband. This pains her because she must helplessly watch his evil ways take their toll on Dimmesdale. However, Chillingworth’s punishment of Dimmesdale goes against his and Hester’s agreement. Hester promised to keep
Words: 967 - Pages: 4
responsibilities for Hester Prynne and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale throughout the novel. When Roger Chillingworth comes to Puritan Boston, he discovers his wife on an ignominious scaffold for the punishment for her sin, adultery. Although they recognize each other they do not disclose each other's identities. Instead of an intense, passionate marriage, Hester Prynne, and Chillingworth have a weak love that is easily broken by the sin of Hester and Dimmesdale. Chillingworth lacks
Words: 850 - Pages: 4
was conceived can drive a man crazy. Roger Chillingworth acts as such as he aggressively argues with Arthur Dimmesdale, the man who he suspects had an affair with his wife, Hester and fathered her child. The two men argue over the possible outcomes one might face when admitting past transgressions. Using a variety of ethos, pathos, and logos, Chillingworth successfully convinces Dimmesdale that the benefits of confessing his sins drastically outweigh the consequences. Chillingworth begins his position
Words: 820 - Pages: 4
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne portrays his belief in the significance of personal strength through the contrasting personalities of Hester Prynne, who portrays strength as she faces the sin with dignity, and her lover Arthur Dimmesdale, who portrays weakness as he continues to hide from the sin. Hester Prynne’s personal strength is important, as well as necessary, for her redemption in life. At the beginning of the novel, Hester is condemned for her sin and forced to stand on
Words: 720 - Pages: 3
Dimmesdale, the local preacher, has fallen ill, but he does not seem to have any illness. Upon closer examination, Roger decides this man is suffering from guilt. He then sugests that he lives with Dimmesdale to better help him. Dimmesdale agrees, and Roger can examin him even more. One night, Roger finds the letter A on Dimmesdales chest. He has found his target! However, by now, Rogers anger has grown, and public
Words: 935 - Pages: 4
