Secret Destruction In The Scarlet Letter

Amy Jacobson
Mrs. Albinak
Honor English 3
26 October 2015
Secret Destruction
“Got a secret can you keep it? Swear this one you’ll save. Better lock it in your pocket, taking this one to the grave” (Secret by The Pierces). This musical composition makes the exigency of a secret prevalent to the outside eye. Keeping a secret changes someone’s personality, leading them to have self-doubt or guilt until that secret is out. After the secret is divulged, the character affected by the secret are more at peace than they were previously, being oblivious. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne focuses on the idea that having a secret changes a person in inconceivable ways, and that the only way to reverse effects of the secret being withheld is
to let it go.
In The Scarlet letter Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale commits a horrible sin and keeps it a secret from everyone. He also has the principal conflict in the novel, and his agonized suffering is the direct result of his inability to disclose his sin. Dimmesdale keeps his sin to himself, aware of the pain his secrecy has caused others. As a result he became a shell of his former self. He was reluctant to divulge his secret; he committed adultery with Roger Chillingworth's wife, Hester Prynne. He was scared to show the public the sin he committed and reveal the man he truly is, a coward. Him withholding his sin from society affected Hester's daughter, Pearl, causing her confusion as to who her parental figures are. Pearl angrily says to Dimmesdale; “‘Thou wast not bold! --- thou wast not true!’ answered the child. ‘Thou wouldst not promise to take my hand, and mother’s hand, to-morrow noontide! ‘“(Hawthorne 142). Dimmesdale's secret causes Pearl pain leading her to doubt who she can and can’t trust in this puritan society. As the novel progresses more, it is revealed that Pearl continually questions Dimmesdale's motives. He hides under the persona of an innocent clergymen, leading townspeople to revere him, but Pearl believes the opposite. She sees the mask behind the man , the fear that lies beneath; “The Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale exhibited no symptom of positive and vivacious suffering, expect that, as little Pearl had remarked, he kept his hand over his heart” ( Hawthorne 170). The fear ate Dimmesdale alive, leaving him in a constant state of suffering. This causes physical strain on his body because of Dimmesdale's constant worrying, leading himself to deterioration. His internal struggle slowly killed him while also causing Pearl mental strain.
Withering away like a flower in the ending of autumn, Dimmesdale's secret continues to slowly kill each character's spirit.
Dimmesdale was the ‘mistress’ in this story and Roger Chillingworth was the victim. Chillingworth was in a constant state of pain throughout the novel, desperately trying to find out who took his wife and made her an adulterer. Nevertheless, Dimmesdale never gave his identity away as the man that made Chillingsworth into a beast. In a frustrated rage Chillingsworth cries out, “ Though will not reveal his name? [...] he shall be mine!” ( Hawthorne 70-71). Chillingworth’s pride has been hit causing him to reevaluate what he think he’s capable of. His once calm and pleasant personality changed as Chillingworth desperately tries to find the identity of the man that ruined his life. Chillingworth speaks of his former self to Hester Prynne, “Dost thou remember me, Hester, as I was nine years ago? Even then, I was in the autumn of my days, nor was it the early autumn. [...] No life had been more peaceful and innocent than mine; few lives so rich with benefits conferred. Dost thou remember me?” (Hawthorne 156). Once a nice kind man, Chillingworth became a slave to Satan in the eyes of the society. Chillingworth lost his identity while in the search for Dimmesdale's secret. Once again, Dimmesdale selfishly withholding his secret hurt someone around
him.
Dimmesdale was reluctant to confess his crime until the very end of the novel when he admits his sin in the marketplace. By the time he divulges the evil he has committed it was far too late; Chillingworth was already helper of Satan in the eyes of the people and Pearl was resentful with no father figure. Dimmesdale hurt more people than if he had just outright told the sin he committed initially. His secrecy did more harm than good to the people involved with him and his crime.