Guilt is a powerful feeling that evokes suffering of many souls. Dimmesdale's guilty conscience causes him much pain and results in his self-mutilation, periods of vigil, and deprivation of sleep. Hawthorne's use of omniscient narration creates a powerful image of Dimmesdale's feelings. With use of sympathetic tone Hawthorne creates an obscure atmosphere for the discussion of Dimmesdale's feelings of guilt and how he bears it.
The feelings of torment and suffering experienced by Dimmesdale are delicately conveyed into the content of the novel by using complex diction and subordinate clauses. Hawthorne's language takes on the tone of a dream and explains Dimmesdale's emotions as if the occur in his sleep. Dimmesdale's trip to the scaffold during the night demonstrates that he suffers from insomnia. His actions of self-torment are evident in his incapability to sleep.
Dimmesdale's trip to the scaffold shows that he feels guilt and shames himself for not standing there with Hester seven years ago. He regrets that he wasn't there with Hester when "[Hester] lived through her first hour of public ignominy" However, Dimmesdale is not yet ready to admit to his sin, so he approaches the scaffold at night when "the town was all asleep". Dimmesdale's only risk in approaching the scaffold at this time of night is decrementing his health- which progressively declines, due to the guilt hidden in his heart.
The regret that Dimmesdale experiences for committing the sin, and for not admitting to it is well displayed by Dimmesdale's actions, not just his thoughts. Granted, the actions taken by the Reverend are made upon the influence of his subconscious mind. His shame and guilt are exemplified best with the syntax employed by Hawthorne. The analytical and in-depth descriptions of Dimmesdale create a powerful effect on the appearance of the Reverend's thoughts. The adverb clauses used to create this image are very descriptive and reveal many thoughts of Dimmesdale.
