Why Is Dimmesdale Important In The Scarlet Letter
On numerous occasions you can see the impact that Dimmesdale endures because of holding this sin inside. Unlike Hester, Dimmesdale has to keep this sin locked inside of his heart and mind and the guilt begins to eat away at him. Throughout the book you can see how much Dimmesdale starts to worry and fret about it and the remorse he feels consumes his life.
Dimmesdale for the first time finally confesses his true feelings to Hester. He even feels the guilt of the sin weighing down on him because this is not supposed to be happening. He is supposed to be a role model and a positive figure. His job as minister means to be an example to others and teach people about God. Dimmesdale has his own secret “Scarlet Letter”. He feels like …show more content…
Hester should not be the only one held accountable for this sin.It puts Dimmesdale in pain with the thought that people do not know the truth and they put all the weight on Hester.
However, Dimmesdale is jealous that Hester is the one who people know about and he has to be in pain hiding this sin.
Some people can harbor sin and wait until their death bed to ask for forgiveness, and others cannot imagine living another day with the sin and guilt eating away at their conscience. Hester took the high road, risked her reputation and accepted the painful road of being shamed, humiliated and shunned. But through her pain she was able to find a road that led her to fulfilling another path of helping the poor and being a maternal role model for those suffering. Dimmesdale on the other hand lived each day in such guilt that it was almost as if someone would recognize the passion in his sermons and question his messages. Although he asked for forgiveness, and I believe he was truly regretful, it is ironic that even after admitting his sin he was never viewed in such a negative manner like Hester was. I wonder if Dimmesdale ever considered what God really thought about sin, asking for forgiveness and if the timing of confession would be an issue when approaching judgment day. Harboring guilt, or dealing with the truth? It would seem that Dimmesdale led a very
sad life because the guilt of knowing what he did never allowed him to heal or overcome his guilt. I believe that Dimmesdale should have admitted his guilt, dealt with the consequences and then taken his message to be one of experience and the lessons he learned. Had he asked for forgiveness, his messages would have been even more powerful and meaningful, even if he risked not being able to preach again. Like Hester, Dimmesdale would have found a new path to follow and his life would have been guilt free and open to whatever relationships may have come along. Dimmesdale’s death was heartbreaking as he finally confessed his sins, received salvation and then died never having the opportunity to live a guilt and remorse free life. Another irony was the closeness he would come to have with Hester after her passing. While they could not live together in while they were alive, they would go on to share a tombstone leading us to believe the bittersweet union of them being together after death, sharing forever the Scarlet Letter they both shared.
Dimmesdale for the first time finally confesses his true feelings to Hester. He even feels the guilt of the sin weighing down on him because this is not supposed to be happening. He is supposed to be a role model and a positive figure. His job as minister means to be an example to others and teach people about God. Dimmesdale has his own secret “Scarlet Letter”. He feels like …show more content…
Hester should not be the only one held accountable for this sin.It puts Dimmesdale in pain with the thought that people do not know the truth and they put all the weight on Hester.
However, Dimmesdale is jealous that Hester is the one who people know about and he has to be in pain hiding this sin.
Some people can harbor sin and wait until their death bed to ask for forgiveness, and others cannot imagine living another day with the sin and guilt eating away at their conscience. Hester took the high road, risked her reputation and accepted the painful road of being shamed, humiliated and shunned. But through her pain she was able to find a road that led her to fulfilling another path of helping the poor and being a maternal role model for those suffering. Dimmesdale on the other hand lived each day in such guilt that it was almost as if someone would recognize the passion in his sermons and question his messages. Although he asked for forgiveness, and I believe he was truly regretful, it is ironic that even after admitting his sin he was never viewed in such a negative manner like Hester was. I wonder if Dimmesdale ever considered what God really thought about sin, asking for forgiveness and if the timing of confession would be an issue when approaching judgment day. Harboring guilt, or dealing with the truth? It would seem that Dimmesdale led a very
sad life because the guilt of knowing what he did never allowed him to heal or overcome his guilt. I believe that Dimmesdale should have admitted his guilt, dealt with the consequences and then taken his message to be one of experience and the lessons he learned. Had he asked for forgiveness, his messages would have been even more powerful and meaningful, even if he risked not being able to preach again. Like Hester, Dimmesdale would have found a new path to follow and his life would have been guilt free and open to whatever relationships may have come along. Dimmesdale’s death was heartbreaking as he finally confessed his sins, received salvation and then died never having the opportunity to live a guilt and remorse free life. Another irony was the closeness he would come to have with Hester after her passing. While they could not live together in while they were alive, they would go on to share a tombstone leading us to believe the bittersweet union of them being together after death, sharing forever the Scarlet Letter they both shared.