Arthur Dimmesdale

"To the untrue man, the whole universe is false- it is impalpable- it shrinks to nothing within his grasp. And he himself is in so far as he shows himself in a false light, becomes a shadow, or, indeed, ceases to exist."

- Chapter 11

Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale is a major character from Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. He is the love interest of Hester Prynne and the father of Pearl.

A well-known and respected Puritan minister in his community, Dimmesdale could not have the courage to reveal his adultery sin to the public and secretly punishes himself for it. His health declines and had nearly confessed his sin to the town at his death.

Description
A young minister loved and worshipped by the Puritans, Arthur Dimmesdale is also a man who lacks the courage to reveal his secret to the townsfolk. While Hester Prynne was publicly shamed for adultery, Dimmesdale is shamed for it quietly and constantly torments himself physical and psychologically when he is having a hard time exposing the truth. He has true devotion to God and his religion, and knowing that not confessing his sin to the public and to God would have consequences for him.

He may have been in love with Hester and fathered her child, but his sin was more greater than hers. He was present at Prynne's public shaming and defended her daughter from being taken away by authorities. He tried to be like a normal person, and had managed to keep his inner emotions private. He doesn't know when it would be the right time to confess to everyone and accept his punishment. He had lashed himself as torture and could have burned the "A" letter into his own flesh to atone for his sins. His health fails possibly from his stress that prevented him from being closer to Hester and from raising his daughter.

While Dimmesdale never meant to have an illegitimate affair with Hester, he chose to die than live another day of guilt and shame. He died only showing a mark of his crime and not his full confession and lets Hester and Pearl live a more decent life without him. Most sinners would receive their harsh punishments since they deserved it, but Dimmesdale hated himself for the actions he did and hopes that he may only be forgiven by God than Hester and the Puritans.

Relationship with Hester Prynne
Arthur Dimmesdale had received his education from an English university and settled in Boston, Massachusetts. After he had formed his own congregation, Dimmesdale met and fell in love with a beautiful Puritan woman named Hester Prynne who had joined his religious group. Although she was already married, Hester and Dimmesdale had an affair that resulted in her becoming pregnant and conceiving a daughter out of wedlock. At some point, Dimmesdale may had discovered about the illegitimate pregnancy and knew that he had done a terrible thing. He attempted to punish himself and had an "A" symbol carved onto his chest; either he had done it himself or he had someone else do it for him. Afterwards, he decides to keep his sin a secret from the townsfolk.

Helping Hester
Dimmesdale and his mentor, John Wilson, were present at Hester's public shaming where she stood on a scaffold with her 3-month-old baby in her arms for a few hours and received humiliation from the Puritans. After being persuaded by Wilson to talk to Hester, Dimmesdale said a silent prayer to himself and questions her who the name of her baby's father is, but she refuses. Dimmesdale was with Wilson when he delivered a sermon and Hester was taken back to her prison cell.

About 3 years later, Dimmesdale, along with Wilson and a physician named Roger Chillingworth, arrive at the Governor's house. The men spot a girl named Pearl there and they tease her, calling her a "demon-child", but they stop when they saw that she is Hester's child and she is nearby. As Governor Bellingham suggests that Pearl should be removed from her mother's care because of the child's blasphemy, Hester begs Dimmesdale to help her. He accepts her pleas and argued that Pearl is a child made from God as a punishment but was also made to prevent her mother from committing a sin again. He even points out that the red dress Pearl is wearing symbolizes Hester's scarlet letter, and Chillingworth notes how the minister spoke passionately.

Dimmesdale has his hand touched by Pearl before she runs down the hall, and his speech had successfully convinced the Governor to not have the child taken away from Hester.

Chillingworth's Torture
Some time later, Dimmesdale notices his health is failing and experiences heart problems, with the townsfolk even praising him as a saint due to his strange illness. Chillingworth offers to look after him and the minister moves in with the physician.

But in Chillingworth's care, Dimmesdale finds himself being tormented by the physician, physically and mentally. Chillingworth is convinced that the minister's fragile health may be caused by a secret he's hiding, and when he asks him to talk about it, Dimmesdale refuses. One day, the men were talking about sin and redemption when they spot Pearl in the graveyard outside of Dimmesdale's home, picking up burrs and placing them on Hester's scarlet letter. She tosses a burr at Dimmesdale, and tells Hester they should leave since the Black Man has possessed the minister. He backs away from the window when the burr was thrown at him. He again refuses to reveal his secret to Chillingworth but he later makes up with him.

As Dimmesdale's health worsens, so does Chillingworth's determination. When the minister was asleep a few days later, Chillingworth opens his shirt and slightly sees his red scar that makes him excited. In addition, he finds himself being mistreated and tortured by the physician as revenge. Dimmesdale becomes miserable and the more he suffers, the more he resents the physician.

When he isn't with Chillingworth, Dimmesdale continues to do his sermons, but lately his topic has been about sin. Even if his parishioners admire him, he is sickened by their reactions and cannot bring himself to confess the truth a few times, although he is yearning to do it. He starts having visions at night, with one where he sees Hester and Pearl in her scarlet dress. Pearl was seen pointing her mother's scarlet letter and Hester pointing to his chest. He is affected by these visions but is unable to seek comfort in the Bible. The more he suffers, the more he hates himself. He whips himself, fasts, holds extended vigils and stays up late as a punishment for his sin. He comes up with a plan that could ease his suffering.

Dimmesdale and Hester
Late one night, Dimmesdale mounts on top of the scaffold Hester stood on seven years earlier. The pain in his chest causes him to scream in agony and fears his screams would wake up the Puritans. Some people were awakened, but assume it was just a witch's voice. He has foolish thoughts as he stands on the scaffold, and he sees John Wilson walking back after attending the first Boston Governor on his deathbed. He laughs when he sees Wilson and calls out to him, but Wilson doesn't see him or respond. He imagines what would happen when the townsfolk see their beloved minister publicly shaming himself after he was almost seen.

Dimmesdale laughs so much that he is responded by a laugh from Pearl, who he didn't notice her presence. Hester and Pearl were at Governor Withrop's deathbed for Hester to prepare a burial robe and after they left, they spot Dimmesdale on the scaffold. He invites them to join him and when they do, they start holding hands. Pearl asks him if he would appear on the scaffold tomorrow, and he replies he will only do it on Judgment Day. Dimmesdale feels more warm and active with Hester and Pearl's presence.

At that moment, a meteor shoots through the sky and when Dimmesdale looks up, he thought he saw an "A" shape in brightened red. Hester and Pearl notice Chillingworth is watching them and Dimmesdale asks Hester who Chillingworth really is, since he loathes and fears him; even referring to him as a "nameless horror". As Hester cannot tell him his identity, Pearl whispers about it into his ear but says total nonsense. Chillingworth coaxes his patient to get off the scaffold and the men return home. Dimmesdale asks the physician where he found him, and Chillingworth claims he was leaving from the governor's deathbed as well.

The next day, Dimmesdale delivers his most powerful sermon. Afterwards, the sexton gives him a black glove found on the scaffold and claims Satan must have left it there. He also mentions some of the townsfolk have reported seeing a bright red "A" shape formed from a falling meteor. They assumed it stood for "Angel" as their deceased Governor Withrop has now ascended to Heaven.

Dimmesdale returns from visiting a Native American settlement when he meets Hester and Pearl in the forest. He approaches them while clutching his chest where his heart is and feeling weak. Free from the public and Chillingworth, the couple hold hands and sit together in a secluded area by a brook. The two of them talk about the past 7 years, with Dimmesdale asking her if she has found peace. He then confesses about his misery and depression of him wanting to reveal himself being a sinner. When Hester tells him Chillingworth is her husband, he blames her for his suffering as well as lamenting how he was unable to to see past the physician's evil appearance. As he was pulled to Hester's chest and lays against her scarlet letter, he doesn't forgive her at first, but eventually gives in by calling Chillingworth the worst sinner than any of them. He worries about Chillingworth, thinking there is no way out under his shadow and is afraid he will expose both of their secrets to the public. Hester convinces him he should start a new life in Europe, and when Dimmesdale says he isn't strong enough to go alone, she tells him she and Pearl will join him.

He is surprised by her bold suggestion but is hopeful and excited that his misery will end when they flee Boston and travel to Europe. He calls Hester an angel and is relieved with joy again. She tosses her scarlet letter away and the couple are brightened by sunlight from the trees. They talk about Pearl and that he should see her so they can be together as a family. Hester calls for Pearl while Dimmesdale is afraid the girl's resemblance of him would reveal his secret. Pearl doesn't recognize her parents but when her mother puts her scarlet letter back on, her daughter comes to them. Pearl asks Dimmesdale if he would come back to town with them, but since he isn't yet, he gives her a kiss but she washes the kiss off at the brook.

The couple agree to escape Boston and in 4 days, they will depart on a ship to England. The day before they leave, he would resign his position right after he delivers his Election Sermon. As he returns to Boston, he can barely believe their plan and his changes. He also finds himself uttering blasphemous comments to a church minister, then to an elderly woman seeking spiritual comfort but something suddenly stops him. Afterwards, he ignores a young woman who he had converted to the church for he feared what he would say would corrupt her innocence. He passes by a sailor and the ship he would soon escape on before he encounters a group of children, and nearly teaches them some blasphemous words. He finally sees Mistress Hibbins, who suggests being an escort to him the next time he is in the forest so they could meet the Black Man. Disturbed by her, he wonders if he had just made a bargain to the Devil.

After he arrives home, he refuses the medicine given to him by Chillingworth and tells him he no longer needs any of his medical drugs. When he is on his own, he starts to write his sermon he is to deliver in 3 days on Election Day. He tosses the original draft into the fire and writes a new one from scratch.

Death
The inauguration day for Boston's new governor has arrived. Dimmesdale is among the officials in the procession through the marketplace, and looks more energetic and healthy. He glances at Hester, which makes her concerned of his behaviour.

He delivers a powerful sermon to the crowd, which is about New England thriving with the power of God. It was a success and is the most greatest moment in his life, with the delighted crowd praising him. As everyone goes to the town hall for a banquet, they murmur when Dimmesdale, now pale and weak again, nearly collapses and can barely walk. He realizes that his failing health is taking an effect on him and he is now going to die. The Governor Bellingham and John Wilson try to help him, but he pushes them aside and pauses as he sees Hester and Pearl standing in front of the scaffold. He ignores Chillingworth trying to stop him as he asks his lover and daughter to climb up the scaffold steps with him. He tells her this is better than when they were in the forest and begs her to take responsibility for his punishment; even saying that God will be forgiving, and that he will finally reveal his secret before his dies.

Supported by Hester and Pearl, Dimmesdale turns to the crowd and announces that he is guilty of the same sin Hester has been punished for. He then proceeds to tear open his shirt, revealing the “A” shaped scar carved onto his chest, as the crowd and Chillingworth watch horrified. He collapses and asks Pearl to kiss him. She does, while she wept. He bids farewell to Hester, saying that their reunion in the afterlife will be decided by God. He then passes away in her arms as the crowd watches in awe.

Dimmesdale was interred in the King's Chapel churchyard, and after Hester's death years later, they both share a headstone with an "A" symbol on the grave's black background.

Personality/Appearance
Arthur Dimmesdale is a young man who is deeply religious and devoted to his profession as a Boston minister. He believes in his Christian morals and often depicts the words of God in his sermons. At times, his sermons can be powerful and eloquent, which may be the reason why he is so beloved and respected by the locals, as they were deeply moved by his sermons and his soft, compassionate voice. He is talented enough to offer education and morality to the human heart and to the Boston citizens, as well as argue about the importance of his secret daughter to Hester while defending her from the authorities. He originally received his education from an English university and is often intelligent at his position. In addition, he is devoted towards God and often thinks about the consequences that his saviour can bring to him and to his people, including when he would rather be punished from God than the townsfolk and tells Hester that the holy lord can decide their fate in the afterlife when they would be with each other again. His sermons were originally about spiritualism and God's virtue to the Puritans, but as he becomes more insane and demented, the topic then focuses on sin and makes him tremble when in the presence of his parishioners.

Despite his respect and intelligence, he is usually a fearful, sensitive and weak man. After his relationship with Hester and got her pregnant, he realizes that he had done something really evil and knew he will face a grim punishment that would leave a black mark on his reputation. His sensitivity is overbearing for him and wanting to be more revealing, but he is so afraid of the consequences, he instead chose to confess of it in secret and to himself, since he refuses to share it to anyone; not even to Chillingworth. His intense fear, anxiety and stress takes a toll of his fragile health and the more he is secretive and worried, the more his health damages until he is on the verge of death. He is also afraid of Chillingworth's ruthless cruelty, and he finds himself turning insane and torturing himself while being tormented mentally by the physician, as well as being anxious of the physician exposing his secrets. These punishments include hurting himself such as whipping himself and even having an "A" symbol carved onto his flesh, as a symbol of his adultery guilt like how Hester wore the scarlet letter on her chest like him. He also has visions of Hester and Pearl, which leaves him more tormented and guilty. His tortured life makes him miserable and is too weak, both physically and emotionally, to do anything to stop it and constantly blames his own frustration for his sin. He grows more sickly possibly from his own stress that results in him developing a fatal heart condition that could be caused from his "A" scar.

While he is supportive and sympathetic to Hester by defending her from having Pearl being removed from her care, he barely interacts with her during the first few years after their daughter and doesn't even bother to offer her more help as she struggles being an outsider. He even sees his over as sinful and child as a symbol of sin and immorality, and they have been indirectly responsible for his demented misery and is unable to clean up his act from bearing an illegitimate child. He is often a bit shy whenever he is around Hester and Pearl, and can be too afraid to speak up to them. Such as when his voice breaks when he gives a sermon to Hester and when he turns down Pearl into wanting to join each other as a family. But as Hester is willing to save him escape from Chillingworth's cruelty, he temporarily brightens and recovers on the idea of him restarting his new life and for once be a more devoted partner and parent. He is also more kind and compassionate to Hester's situation and towards Pearl, and whenever he is with them, he feels more warm and safe. But the severe pain he caused on himself continued to have his health fail rapidly until he is at death's door when he mounts the scaffold and shows off his "A" scar to the public.

Dimmesdale is described as having fair, pale skin with brown eyes, and generally becomes more frail as the novel progresses. He also wears Puritan minister clothing to symbolize his position as a clergyman.

Relationships
Hester Prynne- Dimmesdale's lover. His relationship with her resulted in the birth of their child, and finds himself racked with guilt and shame of his adultery and indirectly allowing them to suffer from their sin. Despite being disregardful of her originally, such as asking her to reveal her lover's name at her public shaming, he really does care of her such as when he defended her from the governor wanting to take Pearl away by speaking out about the girl's importance to her mother. He looked up to her for help and agreed on the idea of wanting to restart his life with her. Before he died in her arms, he hopes they will be together again in the afterlife.

Pearl- Dimmesdale's daughter. Conceived from his affair with Hester, Dimmesdale at first saw her as a "demon-child" but knew that she is essential to Hester as her faithful companion to prevent her from sinning again. He tries to show his love to her, such as holding her hand and kissing her like a father, and as he lays dying in Hester's arms, he has Pearl kiss him as a sign she loves him as well.

Roger Chillingworth- The physician Dimmesdale lived with and looked after while he was sickly. He may had thought he could help him feel better, but ends up being manipulated and tortured by him for revenge. His time with Chillingworth eventually causes his health to decline more and even starts to loathe and fear the deformed man. He is even more nervous of him wanting to reveal his secret and would always chose to keep it to himself from Chillingworth, possibly for his own safety.

John Wilson- Dimmesdale's mentor, who is also a clergyman. He often sees the older man as a father-figure to him and would often be moved by Dimmesdale's eloquent speeches and sermons.