There are many ironic occurrences in the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter. One example of irony is when Hester implies that Reverend Dimmesdale knows her best since he is her pastor, while we later understand that Dimmesdale knows her because they committed adultery together. Hester Prynne says to the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, "[t]hou wast my pastor, and hadst charge of my soul, and knowest me better than these men can"(Hawthorne 104; ch.8). Another ironic conversation is that of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth speaking about another sinner. Chillingworth is indirectly placing blame on Dimmesdale, while Dimmesdale is busy defending his silence about his sin. Neither man actually acknowledges switching the conversation from merely hypothetical to speaking of their own lives. Dimmesdale says, "[p]erchance he earnestly desired it, but could not"(Hawthorne 120; ch.10), meaning that maybe Dimmesdale yearns to confess but is unable to do so. Additionally, when Governor Bellingham tells Reverend Dimmesdale that he is responsible for Hester, he means that since he is her pastor he is responsible for her. We now know that Dimmesdale is responsible for Hester because they sinned together and they are both responsible for that, yet again showing irony. This is evident when Bellingham says, "[g]ood Master Dimmesdale. . . the responsibility of this woman's soul lies greatly with you"(Hawthorne 62; ch.3). The Scarlet Letter has characters making many ironic statements that only become ironic after the father of Hester's baby is revealed.
