Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
The Scarlet Letter: Dimmesdale's Suffering Of Pain And Guilt - Online Term Paper

The Scarlet Letter: Dimmesdale's Suffering Of Pain And Guilt

In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne,
Arthur Dimmesdale suffered the most pain and guilt throughout the entire
book. He experienced a prodigious amount of pain that caused guilt from
his sin. Dimmesdale inflicted self-punishment due to his unforgiving guilt.
He also felt enormous pain when the townspeople praised him. He knew he
was not deserving of praise.
Dimmesdale�s guilt for not admitting his sin is almost
inconceivable. The scaffold was the place that he showed the most pain and
self-loathing he was capable of concealing. He realized that seven years
prior Hester stood in the same place and took punishment for both of them
while he quietly stood ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

doing seven years
ago, come hither now, and twine thy strength about me! Thy
strength, Hester; but let it be guided by the will which God
hath granted me! This wretched and wronged old man is
opposing it with all his might!- with all his own might, and
the fiend�s! Come, Hester, come! Support me up yonder
scaffold!��(p.235)

Dimmesdale also felt guilt and pain about not admitting the sin that he is
Pearl�s father. He was afraid that Pearl would not like him because he had
not accepted her as his child.
�Dost thou thinkest the child will be glad to know me?� (p.193)
�So thou thinkest the child will love me?� (p.237)

Arthur Dimmesdale felt so much guilt that he became a masochist,
and used chains and whips to beat himself in his closet:

�His inward trouble drove him to practices more in accordance
with the old, corrupted faith of Rome than with the better light
of the church in which he had been born and bred. In Mr.
Dimmesdale�s secret closet, under lock and ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.

Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE:

APA
MLA
Chicago
Turabian

The Scarlet Letter: Dimmesdale's Suffering Of Pain And Guilt. (2006, July 8). Retrieved November 28, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Scarlet-Letter-Dimmesdales-Suffering-Pain-Guilt/48819

"The Scarlet Letter: Dimmesdale's Suffering Of Pain And Guilt." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 8 Jul. 2006. Web. 28 Nov. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Scarlet-Letter-Dimmesdales-Suffering-Pain-Guilt/48819>

"The Scarlet Letter: Dimmesdale's Suffering Of Pain And Guilt." Essayworld.com. July 8, 2006. Accessed November 28, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Scarlet-Letter-Dimmesdales-Suffering-Pain-Guilt/48819.

JOIN NOW

Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays

PAPER DETAILS

Added: 7/8/2006 05:31:07 PM
Category: Book Reports
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 920
Pages: 4

Save |

Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS

Save and find your favorite essays easier