The Bible quotes in James 2:14, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Faith, good works, and the elimination of doing evil are topics usually taught in the pulpit by pastors and those who preach these topics must also practice them. However, in The Scarlet Letter, a famous novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Reverend Dimmesdale carries the problem of confession and his wrongdoings are what makes him a far greater sinner than any other character in the novel.
Arthur Dimmesdale is known to be the ˜perfect' example of a pious man. He is the eminent minister of the Puritan society who centers his teachings on what the bible says to be right or wrong and how performing unworthy acts of sin can affect moral relationships with others and the spiritual relationship with God. During some point in his ministry, he partakes in a love affair with a wedded woman by the name of Hester Prynne. In consequence to this immoral affair, which is considered to the community as one of the greatest sins, their daughter Pearl, is born. Due to this sin, Dimmesdale becomes physically and psychologically weak to the point where his once young lively face "seemed to have grown duskier, and his figure more misshapen " (Hawthorne 102). Roger Chillingworth, Hester's real husband, plans for revenge on the two lovers and this causes controversy between the two leading men.
As the book progresses, Dimmesdale wears his religious mask and tries to cover up his sin and growing pain. Not wanting to deal with the consequences for his actions, he remains silent about the truth even when he forces Hester to confess her lover's name in public. According to Chillingworth, he is often seen "holding his hand over his heart, as was his custom whenever his peculiarly nervous temperament was thrown into agitation " (Hawthorne 115). Since he is a strong believer of the Puritan faith, his guilt weighs on him and appears to be contributing to his physical and mental illness.
She continues to wear the scarlet letter there. One of the conflicts in The Scarlet Letter is one man's battle against himself. ... The Scarlet Letter is overflowing with symbolism. ... The Scarlet Letter "A" is the central symbol of the novel. ... The scarlet letter also forges a link between the characters. ...
Sin is an act, which has been committed by individuals since the time Adam and Eve committed man's first sin by eating a piece of fruit from the Garden of Eden. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Crucible by Arthur Miller portray characters committing sins throughout the novel. ... John Proctor, a farmer in The Crucible, and Arthur Dimmesdale, a minister in The Scarlet Letter, both have similar experiences with adultery, but Proctor seems to approach his sin in a more honorable manner than Dimmesdale. ... During the witch trials Proctor demonstrates leadership quali...
Thus, the violence took the form of the Revolutionary war and Congress became the leadership. ... Just as the lack of liberty black people suffered during the racist system, other people suffered from religious punishments as in "The Scarlet letter". Hester Prynne was oppressed by the people because of the sin she had committed . ...
