University of Novi Sad Faculty of Philosophy

XIX Century American Literature

Seminar Paper

Transformation of Dimmesdale

Professor" Nata#a $aranfilovi%

Student" Sne&ana 'a(at

20

ay 20!0

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1. Introduction In this paper I shall try to descri)e and e*plain the transformation of Arthur +immesdale, one of the main characters in The Scarlet Letter, the famous novel -ritten )y Nathaniel .a-thorne/ 0o achieve this 1oal, I have or1ani2ed my paper into seven sections/ 3ne of them is divided into four su)4sections/ Firstly, I shall provide certain 1eneral information a)out the author of The Scarlet Letter, as -ell as a)out the novel itself/ In the second part, the transformation of +immesdale is dealt -ith, throu1h the three scaffold scenes and the forest scene, -hich are considered the most important for the development of all four main characters/ After that, I shall present the relationship of Arthur +immesdale and his lover, .ester Pryne, Arthur and his opponent 5o1er Chillin1-orth, and finally, the one -ith his dau1hter, Pearl/ mentioned is 1iven in the conclusion at the end of the paper/ 2. Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter 6hen Nathaniel .a-thorne -rote this tale of seventeenth4century 'oston, his intention -as to e*plore his o-n re1ional past and ancestral mind 76arren, 89/ It is an interestin1 fact that his 1randfather -as a Puritan (ud1e/ It made him very proud on one hand, )ut on the other he felt 1uilty in a -ay )ecause he has not accomplished as much as his ancestors did/ Additionally, he felt some of the thin1s the Puritans did -ere not fair and (ust/ 0his may )e the reason for .a-thorne:s o)session )y sin and 1uilt/ .a-thorne held a post at the Salem Custom .ouse for several years/ .e -as a +emocrat -ho truly )elieved that his social position is )ased on unpolitical 1rounds/ 'ut, -hen the local 6in1s dischar1ed him from it, he finally started -ritin1 The Scarlet Letter/ It is his first novel/ It -as -ritten at Salem, in !;<=480 76arren, 89/ .a-thorn -as familiar -ith the anti>uities of his re1ion/ .e en(oyed readin1 the old (ournals and local histories of Salem, Plymouth, Lynn, and Nantuc?et/ .e made researches a)out different recorded events in the Puritan communities/ .e e*amined the limits of possi)ilities, so -e could say that such story mi1ht have happened 76arren, @9/ y attempt to summari2e everythin1

'a(at A The Scarlet Letter is a romance, not a chronicle/ 0he )asic characteristic of a romance is that it is on the )orderline )et-een reality and fantasy/ It )lends these t-o thin1s/ It is called romance )ecause its ori1in 1oes )ac? to medieval times/ As far as the structure of the novel is concerned, it has a very ela)orate, very detailed structure/ It is )alanced and episodic/ 5omances usually have an episodic structure/ The Scarlet Letter is made of 2< chapters/ It )e1ins -ith a prolo1ue in -hich the -riter is esta)lishin1 a historical, cultural and political frame-or?/ .e is descri)in1 the community, the Puritan history, as -ell as the situation in his time, not in the time of the novel/ .e did this )ecause he -anted to step )ac? into the Puritan past and to offer a contemporary perspective/ It is his perspective on the Puritan herita1e that concerned him throu1hout his -hole life/ In the follo-in1 chapters he introduces the Puritan conte*t -ith all the ma(or sym)ols of the Puritan society/ 0he church is the most important o)(ect in the community/ 0here is also the scaffold -ith its precise purpose, and the prison, -hich is the sym)ol of civili2ation and a sym)ol of alienation of society, as -ell as the 1raveyard/ 0he action actually ta?es place amon1 these sym)ols/ 0here are three ma(or scaffold scenes -hich tri11er all the ma(or actions in the novel/ 0he four main characters are present in these scenes/ In the first one, .ester is condemned for her misdemeanor/ She slept -ith the pastor/ She -as a -ido- at that time )ut it -as still treated as a sin since they -ere not married/ Later on it is revealed that she is a married -oman -ho slept -ith a priest/ A child -as )orn from that relationship/ 0hat is the reason -hy she is standin1 on the scaffold )ein1 (ud1ed/ 0he Puritans strictly follo-ed the 'i)le and the 0en Commandments/ 3ne of the 0en Commandments is B0hou should not commit adulteryC/ It -as important for the Puritans to follo- these rules )ecause of the division of property/ A child had to )e )orn -ithin the -edloc? so to inherit property/ It -as important to )oth fathers and mothers to ?no- that their children are le1ally theirs/ 0here is a conflict )et-een an individual and the community, -hich is one of the 1reat themes of the novel/ .ester does not steal nor ?ill any)ody )ut she )rea?s the rules/ 0he society (ud1es her )ecause of that/ She is mar?ed -ith the letter BAC for adulteress/ 0hat letter is scarlet/ It -as one -ay of punishin1 people in the Puritan society, to mar? them so the -hole community could see that they committed a sin/

'a(at < 0he importance of confession is one of the important factors of this novel/ 0he Puritans )elieved that if people confessed in the church or in front of the community on the scaffold, they should )e for1iven/ It is essential for sinners to confess their mis)ehavior/ .o-ever, .ester does not do such thin1/ She does not reveal the name of the father of her child hence she does not )elieve in repentance/ 0herefore, .ester is (ud1ed )y the society/ Althou1h the American society has the 1reatest respect for the people -ho confess their 1uilt, such act is unaccepta)le not only for .ester, )ut for Arthur +immesdale as -ell/ .e is another sinner in the story, a different one ho-ever/ +immesdale:s secret 1uilt 1ives him a deep and su)tle understandin1 of his fello-s and a po-er as a preacher -hich he could not other-ise have had/ Chillin1-orth is also a very comple* character/ .e is a -ron1ed hus)and, yet he is the )i11est sinner in the novel/ .e -as an old and almost u1ly man -hen he married a youn1 and )eautiful .ester, ne1lectin1 the fact that she could never love him in a -ay he -ished/ oreover, he set off on a lon1 (ourney durin1 -hich the married couple had no contact -hat so ever, and e*pected her to -ait for him unconditionally/ 3n the other hand, once the -ron1 has )een done him, he has developed, as the reven1er, into one -ithout compassion, the most sinful of the three/ Finally, there is an innocent child sufferin1 )ecause of her parents: sins4Pearl/ She is very mysterious and not really a character/ Pearl is an alle1ory or a metaphor/ She acts as a sym)ol/ She is a sym)ol of her parents, a constant reminder for them, )ut at the same time she serves as a sym)ol of redemption to-ards .ester/ In a -ay, Pearl is her tic?et to .eaven/ She is the em)odiment of the letter her mother -ears/ .a-thorne and his pu)lisher -ere very surprised )y the success of The Scarlet Letter/ 0he first edition -as e*hausted -ithin ten days/ Critical praise reached him from Dn1land as -ell as from his o-n country/ .e is also said to have received letters from secret criminals of all ?inds -hich must have )een an additional satisfaction for the -riter 76arren, =9/

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3. Arthur Dimmesdale 3.1 The first scaffold scene In The Scarlet Letter -e read a)out three sinners/ 3ne of them is Arthur +immesdale/ .e is a priest in the Puritan community, in a villa1e near 'oston, in the !E th century/ .e committed adultery -ith .ester Pryne -ho 1ave )irth to his dau1hter, named Pearl/ .is name su11ests am)i1uity/ +im means dar?, not clean/ +ale is a ?ind of a valley, or hollo-/ It could )e related to the human heart -hich is full of holes/ Arthur )e1ins -ith the letter BAC -hich is the letter -orn )y .ester Pryne/ 0herefore, it reminds .ester not only that she is an adulteress 7(ust as +immesdale is9, )ut also of the man she committed adultery -ith/ +immesdale is a youn1, -ell educated priest -ho came from 3*ford/ .e is a scholar -ho is supposed to save the community and to preserve the ima1e of the city upon a hill/ 0his minister is truly devoted to Fod/ If he had not )een so passionate in his reli1ion he -ould have not )een sufferin1 so much )ecause of the ina)ility to disclose the sin he had committed/ +immesdale is some-here )et-een his love for freedom and passion for .ester Pryne, and the denial of fleshly love/ 0he three scaffold scenes descri)ed in 0he Scarlet Letter actually present his transformation/ .e 1radually reveals the -ea? side of his character, )ut also the un>uestiona)le -ill and determination to do the ri1ht thin1/ It surely ta?es him lon1, )ut in the end, +immesdale mana1es to find his peace a1ain/ In the first scaffold scene, -here .ester is )rou1ht )efore the to-nspeople to stand a certain time not )ein1 a)le to hide her face for shame, Arthur is presented in an elevated position -hich is the reflection of his hi1h position in the society/ .e stands alon1 -ith Fovernor 'ellin1ham and other eminent mem)ers of the community over the platform on -hich .ester stands -ith the )a)y in her arms, on a ?ind of )alcony, or an open 1allery/ 0he reverend Gohn 6ilson fails in the attempt to convince .ester to reveal the name of the person -ho tempted her to such B1rievous fallC 7.a-thorne, @!9, so he as?s youn1 5everend Arthur +immesdale to spea? to her and Bto e*hort her to repentance, and to confessionC 7.a-thorne, @29/ Arthur:s head is )ent, as if he -as prayin1 to 1od, and finally he comes for-ard to fulfill his duty/

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In his -ords one can notice almost )e11in1 for .ester:s revealin1 of the truth" 'e not silent from any mista?en pity and tenderness for himH for, )elieve me, .ester, thou1h he -ere to step do-n from a hi1h place, and stand there )eside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet )etter -ere it so, than to hide a 1uilty heart throu1h life/ 6hat can thy silence do for him, e*cept it tempt him4yea, compel him, as it -ere4to add hypocrisy to sinI .eaven had 1ranted thee an open i1nominy, that there)y thou mayest -or? out an open triumph over the evil -ithin thee, and the sorro- -ithout/ 0a?e heed ho- thou deniest to him4-ho, perchance, hath not the coura1e to 1rasp it for himself4the )itter, )ut -holesome, cup that is no- presented to thy lipsJ 7.a-thorne, @A9 It is clear that the 1uilt tears him a part/ .e -ants to (oin .ester and to share the 1uilt -ith her/ It -ould certainly )rin1 him revelation and peace in the soul/ .o-ever, that is not 1oin1 to happen )ecause .ester refuses to say anythin1 a)out the father of her child, and he simply has no coura1e to do it himself/ 3ne other thin1 that could have prevented him from admittin1 the sin is that he does not -ant to disappoint his con1re1ation -hich trusts him and ta?es him as an e*ample of ri1hteousness/ As a priest, +immesdale is fully a-are that in Puritan reli1ion an honest confession is hi1hly valued/ Nevertheless, at this point he is incapa)le for it/ .e leaves .ester alone to )e the only sinner )efore the pu)lic thus )e1innin1 to destroy his o-n personality/ 0he hidden 1uilt never a)andons him/ For the Puritan society, +immesdale is the priest -orth of their purist admiration, )ut he feels li?e the )i11est lier/ .e has earned the people:s trust, and no- he is un-illin1 to )etray it/ .e is un-illin1 to share the shame -ith .ester either/ Another person is introduced durin1 the first scaffold scene/ .e -ill torture +immesdale till the very end of his life/ .e is 5o1er Chillin1-orth, a cold individual as the first part of his surname su11ests, -ho could have )ecome -orth, as the second part implies, )ut eventually, did not/ .e is .ester:s hus)and, )elieved to )e dead, )ut on contrary, very much alive and present/ 'ein1 clever, -ell educated physician, 5o1er soon reali2es -ho could )e the adulterer/ .e )ecomes Arthur:s personal doctor and pretends to )e his most honest friend, -aitin1 for the opportunity to reven1e/ Li?e every person committed to reven1e, he does not -ant to finish >uic?ly, )ut feeds himself on his victim:s sufferin1/

'a(at E .o-ever, there is a hint that the 5everend Arthur +immesdale had already )y that time started physical selftorture, since the -riter descri)es him -ith his hand upon his heart in the moment of reali2in1 .ester:s un-illin1ness to 1ive a name to her child )y revilin1 the father:s name" B BShe -ill not spea?JC murmured r/ +immesdale, -ho, leanin1 over the )alcony, -ith his hand upon his heart, had a-aited the result of his appeal/C 7.a-thorne, @<9 3.2 The second scaffold scene 3ne day .ester came to the mansion of Fovernor 'ellin1ham/ She )rou1ht him 1loves, -hich she frin1ed and em)roidered to his order/ Another and far more important reason than this delivery -as the fact that she had heard that there -as a desi1n on the part of some of the older inha)itants to deprive her from her child/ +urin1 the conversation -ith the 1overnor, and in presence of )oth Arthur +immesdale and 5o1er Chillin1-orth, .ester tries to protect her ri1ht as a mother and openly as?s Arthur to help her/ 0he youn1 minister comes for-ard, pale, and a1ain, holdin1 his hand over his heart, Bas -as his custom -henever his peculiarly nervous temperament -as thro-n into a1itationC 7.a-thorne, !0E9/ .e too? .ester:s side and mana1ed to convince the Fovernor that Pearl:s place is )eside her mother/ 6hat came across old Chillin1-orth:s mind -as that 5everend +immesdale pleaded -ell for the poor -oman/ 0hat only confirmed his suspicions/ 0he speech +immesdale made in .ester:s )ehalf -as his first open involvement in their mutual drama/ .e -as 1iven a chance to do somethin1 useful for the t-o female persons -ho -ere carryin1 his )urden too/ .ester and Pearl have )een constantly punished )y the community and forced to live at its outs?irts, some-here )et-een the civili2ation and the nature/ Althou1h Arthur suffers too, he is at least spared of the pu)lic humiliation/ .o-ever, on ceasin1 to spea?, +immesdale had -ithdra-n a fe- steps from the 1roup, -hen Pearl stole softly to-ards him, too? his hand in the 1rasp of )oth her o-n, and laid her chee? a1ainst it/ B0he minister4for, save the lon14sou1ht re1ards of -oman, nothin1 is s-eeter than these mar?s of childish preference, accorded spontaneously )y a spiritual instinct, and therefore seemin1 to imply in us somethin1 truly -orthy to )e loved, 4the minister loo?ed round, laid his hand on the child:s head, hesitated an instant, and then ?issed her )ro-/C 7.a-thorne,

'a(at ; !0=9 0he event descri)ed a)ove is very important for further development of Arthur:s personality and certainly contri)uted a 1reat deal to the follo-in1, very important scene/ 0he second scaffold scene is the second ma(or clima*, -hich is in chapter !2/ 0his one ta?es place at ni1ht and a1ain all four characters are present/ 0he plot starts chan1in1, )ecause )oth .ester and +immesdale learn some thin1s a)out each other/ .ester is the mar?ed one, )ut +immesdale, -ho is her lover and thus e>ually 1uilty, has )een re1arded as the savior of the Puritan society, the 1ood one, and the appreciated one/ 0his must have )othered .ester, )ut noshe -ill reali2e that he -as sufferin1 too/ .e has )ecome his o-n -orst enemy/ .e is -hippin1 and starvin1 himself/ .e -ants to suffer as .ester does/ 'ein1 a hypocrite is ?illin1 him/ 0he second scaffold scene ta?es place in the ni1ht of the death of the Fovernor 6inthrop/ .is death represents not only the death of the Puritan society, )ut also certain chan1es in +immesdale:s mind/ It has )een seven years since .ester:s punishment and it seems that +immesdale:s patience has come to the end/ In contrast to the day of .ester:s punishment, -hen +immesdale -as up on the )alcony, no- he stands do-n, on the platform made for the torture of the sinners/ For the first time, he confesses his sin/ Unfortunately, no one else is present to hear it/ 6hat is more, -hen 5everend r/ 6ilson, -ho had )een prayin1 at the )edside of the Fovernor 6inthrop, accidentally passed )eside the scaffold, Arthur held his )reath and 1ave no si1n of presence/ Such )ehavior of his su11ests that he is still unprepared to ta?e the conse>uences of the pu)lic confession/ 3n the other hand, the very attempt to )e )rave as he desired to )e, proves as a 1i1antic step to-ard salvation, his self4for1iveness/ .is Puritan inhi)itions 1radually -ea?en -hile his passionate side stren1thens/ At the same time, it is clear that his health is seriously deteriorated/ .is sin not only rests on his soul, )ut also on his chest/ 0he poor minister seems to en(oy every moment of the self4torture -hich is the only escape from the 1uilt that drives him almost cra2y/ 6hile Kenera)le Father 6ilson -as passin1 )y, not noticin1 the poor minister, +immesdale -as thin?in1 a)out ho- it -ould )e li?e -hen people find him in the mornin1, half fro2en to death, over-helmed -ith shame, and standin1 -here .ester Pryne had stood/ Carried a-ay )y the 1rotes>ue horror of this picture, he even )ursts into a 1reat peal of lau1hter/ 0hat is -hen .ester and Pearl appear from the dar?ness of the ni1ht, returnin1 home from -atchin1 at the death)ed of Fovernor 6inthrop/ All three of them are no- on the scaffold, holdin1 hands, and formin1 Ban electric chainC 7.a-thorne, !<89/ It seemed li?e a tumultuous rush of ne- life,

'a(at = other than his o-n, poured li?e a torrent into his heart/ It -as as if the mother and the child -ere Bcommunicatin1 their vital -armth to his half4torpid systemC 7.a-thorne, !<89/ 'ut, -hen little Pearl as?ed him -hether he -ould stand there -ith her and her mother the ne*t day at noon, all the dread of pu)lic e*posure, that had so lon1 )een the an1uish of his life, had returned upon him/ .o-ever, he made a promise that he -ould do so Bat the 1reat (ud1ment dayC 7 .a-thorne, !<89/ 'efore r/ +immesdale had done spea?in1, a li1ht 1leamed over all the s?y/ 0his meteor represented different thin1s for different people/ 'ut for Arthur +immesdale, it -as an immense letter A/ .a-thorne attri)utes this solely to his diseased ima1ination, -hich sees in everythin1 his o-n mor)id concerns 7 atthiessen, 2E@9/ .a-thorne remar?s that the stran1e li1ht -as Bdou)tless causedC 7.a-thorne, !<89 )y a meteor B)urnin1 out to -asteC 7 .a-thorne, !<89/ 3n the other hand, he descri)es the scene -here the se*ton as?s +immesdale the ne*t mornin1 if he had heard of the portent, -hich had )een interpreted to stand for An1el since Fovernor 6inthrop had died durin1 the ni1ht 7 atthiessen,2E@9/ 6hile they -ere loo?in1 at the si1n in the s?y, +immesdale -as someho- a-are of the presence of 5o1er Chillin1-orth, -ho -as standin1 close to the scaffold/ 0his is -hen the minister admits .ester that he is afraid of that stran1e old man, and that he actually hates him/ It is very interestin1 that Arthur reveals his true feelin1s to his so4called friend at the moment -hen he has already )een livin1 -ith him in the same house for a certain period of time/ .e could not refuse 5o1er:s CfriendshipC as people -ould consider him a rude person/ Additionally, 5o1er -as the one ta?in1 care of his health/ 3f course, he too? a really 1ood care of him since he lived on the minister:s misery/ Finally, Chillin1-orth -as the one -ho made sure that the 5everend +immesdale 1et home safely after the vi1il that ni1ht/ 0he ne*t day, 5everend +immesdale preached a discourse -hich -as held to )e the richest and most po-erful until then/ to-ards any mem)ers of a community -ere )rou1ht to the truth )y the efficiency of that sermon, Band vo-ed -ithin themselves to cherish a holy 1ratitude r/+immesdale throu1hout the lon1 hereafterC 7.a-thorne, !<=9/ 'ein1 a sinner himself, 5everend +immesdale ?ne- -hat he -as tal?in1 a)out/ .e spo?e from the heart, and truly understood the temptation, the 1uilt, the sufferin1 of the soul/ 0his is -hy his con1re1ation loved him and admired his spirit/ For them, he -as almost a saint, someone -ho serves as a role

'a(at !0 model for every person in the community/ 0he irony -as that, the more tortured he -as, the )etter his sermons -ere/ 3.3 A forest walk In the forest scene, the t-o sinners are to1ether a1ain/ 0he adultery of .ester and +immesdale -as a sin of passion and impulse/ 'ut their decision to rene- their 1uilty relationship and 1o a-ay to1ether is a much more serious sin of deli)erate -ill and choice 76a1en?necht, ;E9/ .ester resolved to ma?e ?no-n to +immesdale the true character of the man -ho had crept into his intimacy45o1er Chillin1-orth/ 6hen the minister appears in the forest, little Pearl notices that he has his hand over his heart a1ain/ Arthur admits .ester that he had not found peace/ .e had not found anythin1 )ut despair/ .e considers himself the most misera)le man/ .e has no faith in the 1ood -hich he may appear to do/ For him, it must )e a delusion" B6hat can a ruined soul, li?e mine, effect to-ards the redemption of other soulsI4or a polluted soul to-ards their purificationI And as for the people:s reverence, -ould that it -ere turned to scorn and hatredJC 7.a-thorne, !;29 6hen he has to stand up in his pulpit, meetin1 many eyes turned up-ard to his face, as if the li1ht from heaven -ere )eamin1 from it, he is a-are that they listen to him Bas if a ton1ue of Pentecost -ere spea?in1C 7.a-thorne, !;29/ 0hen he loo?s in-ard and sees the )lac? reality of -hat they idoli2e/ .e admits )itterly that he has lau1hed in a1ony of heart, at the contrast )et-een -hat he seem and -hat he is/ Arthur re1rets not havin1 at least one person to -hom he -ould )e ?no-n as the vilest of all sinners/ .e feels that even that much of truth -ould save him/ 'ut, livin1 life the -ay he did, everythin1 seems to )e falsehood, emptiness and death/ In this moment, .ester reali2es that she should not have let for so many years the identity of her hus)and hidden/ A man feels more than he ?no-s/ Arthur remem)ers the natural recoil of his heart the first time he sa- the man/ Althou1h Arthur and .ester made plans for future, )ased on the escape from their to-n to Dn1land, nothin1 such -ill happen/ Dven if they had fled from 'oston, +immesdale could never have escaped, for he -ould have carried 'oston a-ay -ith him in his heart, -herever he mi1ht have 1one 76a1en?necht, ;=9/

'a(at !! After the conversation in the forest, +immesdale rushes home to -rite the Dlection Sermon/ .e is almost euphoric/ 0hat sermon is to cro-n his ministerial career/ .e moves Bin such a )urst of ener1y as he had not ?no-n since he )ecame a sinnerC 76a1en?necht, ;=9/ .e eats as if he had not eaten for a lon1, lon1 time/ .e -rites furiously, e*pendin1 his mental and physical ener1ies as rec?lessly as if he -ere never to need them a1ain/ As it turns out, he really did not 76a1en?necht, ;=9/ +immesdale forecast a 1lorious future for his country, -hich is all -e ?no- a)out his sermon/ Dven .ester does not hear it/ It is only an indistinct murmur and Arthur:s peculiar voice that reaches her, as she stands listenin1 in the mar?etplace/ 'efore +immesdale had finished this sermon he made one more, )ut thre- it a-ay/ 6e do not ?no-hat the difference )et-een the t-o of them is, )ut it is also a proof of unstoppa)le chan1es in the minister:s mind 76a1en?necht, =09/ .e has finally made some crucial decisions a)out the -ay he -ould choose to 1o that day/ .is euphoria must have collapsed at some point -hen he impulsively decided to mount the steps of the scaffold and summon .ester and Pearl to (oin him there 76a1en?necht, =09/ 6a1en?necht says that Bthe ener1y that had carried him thus far, even -hen he felt himself most inspired, -as )asically se*ual in characterC 76a1en?necht, =09/ It is very stran1e to reali2e that +immesdale can thin? in a -ay that common people do/ 3n the -ay home, he -hispers )lasphemies and o)scenities to such mem)ers of his con1re1ation as he chanced to encounter/ In this scene, +immesdale can )e seen as one -ithout an ultimate control over his deepest feelin1s, over his passion/ 0here is nothin1 to distin1uish him from an BordinaryC man/ 'ut -hat he does soon after, distin1uishes him immeasura)ly/ 3.4 The third scaffold scene 0he culmination of the story happens in the last of the three scaffold scenes/ +immesdale finally reveals his paternity/ People are shoc?ed and most of them cannot comprehend -hat is 1oin1 on )efore their eyes/ In the first scaffold scene, .ester -as confrontin1 the entire community -ith )a)y Pearl in her arms, -hile Arthur -as standin1 on a )alcony, in his elevated position/ In the second, he (oined them, )ut in the secrecy of the ni1ht/ In the final one, the three stand to1ether in pu)lic/ 0hey are closest to a true family as they -ould ever )e/ For the first time, these t-o lovers are standin1 to1ether -ithout -orryin1 -hat people mi1ht say/ In spite of

'a(at !2 that, .ester:s and Arthur:s points of vie- are in conflict 7 illin1ton, !E89/ .ester is not sure they should devote their love to a hi1her po-er/ She thin?s of Pearl/ 0hat 1irl is the most important if not the only important part of her life/ Pearl is real, she is holdin1 her hand/ She can touch her/ Pearl )elon1s to earthly life -hich is the reason -hy .ester is not a)le to fully (ustify Arthur:s claim that the destiny he chose -as )etter than the one they dreamed a)out in the forest/ .o-ever, Arthur +immesdale told his con1re1ation that he -as the sinner (ust li?e .ester -as/ .e deserves to )e despised for his co-ardice to ta?e his part of responsi)ility/ Pearl finally has a le1al father/ y opinion is that +immesdale surely hoped he -as leavin1 them -ith lots of ne- possi)ilities comin1 out of his confession/ As for him, the death -as the only thin1 that mi1ht save him and )rin1 the revelation to his soul/ .o- do spectators of the -hole scene, e*tremely confusin1 for most of them, felt a)out their favorite minister:s confessionI Some claimed that the minister had )e1un a course of self4 mortification on the very day on -hich .ester Prynne had first )een convicted to -ear her i1nominious )ad1e/ 0hey )elieved that he made the scar thus convictin1 himself/ 3thers held that 5o1er Chillin1-orth, B)ein1 a potent necromancer, had caused it to appear, throu1h the a1ency of ma1ic and poisonous dru1sC 7.a-thorne, 2<@9/ Still others -hispered that Bthe a-ful sym)ol -as the effect of the ever4active tooth of remorse,C 7.a-thorne, 2<@9 1na-in1 from his inmost heart out-ard/ .avin1 in mind that, seein1 him e*tremely -ea? -hile approachin1 the scaffold, some of them -ould not have )een surprised if one so holly had ascended )efore their eyes fadin1 at last into the li1ht of heaven, it is understanda)le -hy such people denied that there -as any mar? -hatever on +immesdale:s )reast/ 0hey even claimed that his dyin1 confession should )e understood in 1eneral sense/ 0hese -itnesses -ere respecta)le mem)ers of the community -ho -anted to ?eep the -or? and name of Arthur +immesdale unharmed, as pure as possi)le 7 atthiessen, 2EE9/ 0he ma(ority refused to )elieve that he -as a sinner/ 0he community remained divided upon this matter/ 0his is ho- Arthur +immesdale, -ho started from the hi1h position, fell, and a1ain rose in the end/

'a(at !A

4. Dimmesdale and Hester 0here are so many differences )et-een .ester and +immesdale/ .ester is full of life/ She is capa)le to face the pro)lems and to deal -ith them/ She is a determined -oman -ho ?no-s e*actly -hat she -ants and even )etter -hat she does not -ant/ 6hen she decided not to reveal the name of her lover, nothin1 could ma?e her chan1e her mind/ She is a stron1, patient mother/ She is also capa)le of ta?in1 ris?s startin1 from the marria1e -ith 5o1er Chillin1-orth, throu1h the relationship -ith a priest and motherhood, to the ma?in1 plans for future -ith the ruined man as Arthur has )ecome/ 3n the other hand, Arthur +immesdale has a far firmer 1rasp upon the Puritan faith/ Spiritually and intellectually he can not )rea? out of his reli1ious limits, even thou1h he committed a sin under the influence of passion 76a1en?necht, ;;9/ .e is not )rave enou1h to tell the pu)lic -hat he is really li?e, )ut he can endure horri)le mental and physical torture/ .e 1oes -ith the flo- -aitin1 for the others, especially .ester, to ma?e the important decisions on his )ehalf, startin1 from the first scaffold scene -hen he is practically )e11in1 her to reveal his name, till the forest scene, -hen she is a1ain the one -ho su11ests the solution for the un)eara)le situation in -hich )oth of them are/ 'y that time, +immesdale:s position is even more difficult than hers/ .e could have )een a 1ood father, he proved it -hen he convinced the Fovernor that Pearl:s place is ne*t to her mother/ 6hen the situations allo-ed, he sho-ed 1entleness to his dau1hter, )ut I thin? that is not compara)le -ith the .ester:s role in their child:s life/ +immesdale does not have .ester:s stron1 character/ From the very )e1innin1, .ester ta?es the responsi)ility entirely on herself not even considerin1 revealin1 her fello-4sinner/ She is a 1entle, responsi)le, carin1 mother/ +immesdale has no si1nificance for their child until the moment of ta?in1 mother:s side -hen the heads of community too? into consideration ta?in1 the child a-ay of the mother/ People despise .ester, althou1h she tries very hard to soften their attitude )y helpin1 to the poor and in every other -ay/ .ester:s main 1oal is to provide a place in society for Pearl, not for herself/ 3n the other hand, +immesdale is a respectful mem)er of a community/ .e is tortured inside )y the mutual 1uilt, )ut the fact is that he -as not on the pedestal of shame/ 0his is -hy he can )e called a hypocrite/

'a(at !< Some critics thin? he may not have )een -orth such .ester:s pain/ 5. Dimmesdale and Chillin worth 0here is no dou)t that 5o1er Chillin1-orth is, as his name says, a cold, insensitive old man, )ut he is also, a1ain as a parallel to his name, a -orthy one/ .e is a physician/ 0he term used for physicians -as BleechC/ 5o1er Chillin1-orth lives literally li?e a leech on Arthur +immesdale/ Any-ay, his profession is the reason -hy people accept him in spite of the 1eneral feelin1 that somethin1 dar?, mean, even devilish is hidden )ehind the scholar:s mas?/ 'oth the physician and the minister have a hi1h position in the community/ Chillin1-irth married .ester as a youn1 1irl/ .e -as completely a-are of the fact that there -as no true response from her side/ 0hen he left her all alone to -ait him for years/ In such situation, .ester:s violation of marria1e vo-s could hardly )e the most une*pected turnout/ Not only .ester violated her marria1e vo-s, )ut 5o1er did also/ .e refused to reveal his identity to the pu)lic since he did not -ant to )e the su)(ect of their moc?ery/ 0his aven1in1 hus)and stal?ed his -ife:s lover and is associated -ith Satan himself, or Satan:s emissary/ .e has the native po-er to read the human soul/ It helps him a 1reat deal in discoverin1 the identity of his -ife:s lover/ Conductin1 the reven1e, he sho-s no sympathy at all/ It only leads him to transformation that is actually de1radation of )oth his character and appearance/ .e is more evil day )y day and u1lier also/ .is reven1e is slo- and calculated/ 0he lon1er his victim, the minister -ith a hidden sin, suffers, the more he en(oys it/ Althou1h Chillin1-orth mi1ht not )e Pearl:s )iolo1ical father, he is her father in the eyes of the la-/ Ironically, he -ho ?no-s his le1al ri1hts as a hus)and, does not even thin? of ta?in1 responsi)ilities as a le1al father 7 illin1ton, !EA9/ In other -ords, Pearl has t-o fathers -ho do not -ant to accept her/ 3n the other hand, at his death Chillin1-orth )e>ueathed to his once4 re(ected child Ba considera)le amount of property, )oth here and in Dn1landC 7.a-thorne, 2<;9/ At his death, +immesdale pu)licly ac?no-led1es his paternity/ Pearl had to -ait until their lives has fallen apart and finally ended to 1ain the 1ood thin1s/ 'etter late than never, some -ould pro)a)ly say, )ut the final steps her fathers had ta?en provided her the most important thin1s for her future/ She achieved her mother:s 1oal to )ecome ri1htfully treated person in the society, -hile the money and the property certainly came li?e a )onus/

'a(at !8

!. Dimmesdale and "earl Pearl, .ester:s dau1hter )y +immesdale, comes closer to )ein1 an alle1orical fi1ure than any)ody else in 0he Scarlet Letter/ She acts as a sym)ol/ She is a sym)ol of her parents, a constant reminder for them/ Pearl is a treasure for .ester/ She is the em)odiment of the letter/ .ester constantly dresses her in scarlet/ She has a dual nature/ ost of the time she is connected to -ilderness )ecause she simply cannot )e controlled/ She does not listen to .ester -ho is often -onderin1 -hether this is the conse>uence of the fact that she -as )orn out of marria1e/ Pearl is also connected to the primeval 1oodness of nature/ She is a child of nature not only )ecause she has no father, )ut also )ecause she is out of tune -ith society and in harmony -ith the forest and all the -ild thin1s in it, as they are -ith her/ In 1ivin1 her e*istence, a 1reat la- had )een )ro?en/ In the second scaffold scene Pearl and her father meet at ni1ht and she as?s him -hen he -ould )e her father in the dayli1ht/ She is disappointed -ith his ans-er/ In the forest scene, .ester and +immesdale are standin1 on one side of the river -hile Pearl is on the other side/ 0his is -hen .ester ta?es off her )onnet and the scarlet letter/ She confesses everythin1 to +immesdale and he confesses everythin1 to her/ 0hey feel pure, )ut Pearl cannot reco1ni2e them and does not -ant to reco1ni2e them, )ecause -ithout confession to the pu)lic it is not enou1h/ In the third scaffold scene -here +immesdale finally introduces himself as Pearl:s father and thus accepts her, they ?iss and he dies/ 0he moment she 1ained her father she looses him a1ain/ 0rou1h that 1rief she )ecomes a human, she is no lon1er an elf:s child, she is no lon1er connected to the mysterious -orld/ 6hen +immesdale defends .ester )efore the Fovernor, Pearl )ehaves in a surprisin1ly 1entle manner to-ards Arthur/ .er mother did not e*pect so/ She ta?es his hand in hers o-n and lays her chee? a1ainst it/ 3n the other hand, she is an1ry -ith him in the second scaffold scene )ecause he -ill not promise to stand there to1ether -ith her and her mother the ne*t day at noon/ oreover, she refuses to ?iss him in the forest scene )ecause he is not BtrueC/ It is only in the third and final scaffold scene that she achieves full humanity, Band as her tears fell openly upon her father:s chee?, they -ere the pled1e that she -ould 1ro- up amid human (oy and sorro-, nor

'a(at !@ forever do )attle -ith the -orld )ut )e -oman in it/C 7.a-thorne, 2<<9 She had at last )een 1iven a father/ 0hat -as the missin1 part in her life/ 3vercomin1 the last difficulty, she could finally )e esta)lished as an e>ually treated person in a society/ She can )e understood as the instrument of +immesdale:s redemption 76a1en?necht, =A9/ Pearl married and lived pro)a)ly a happy life/ 0here is no hint for anythin1 other than that/ 0hus she accomplished -hat her parents could not/ 0heir sacrifices certainly contri)uted to such success of hers/

#. Conclusion

After all, ho- can one summari2e +immesdale:s transformationI A1ony is perhaps the most ade>uate -ord to descri)e his feelin1s throu1hout most of the seven years descri)ed in The Scarlet Letter/ 0orn apart )et-een the desire to confess the sin thus 1ivin1 a relief to his tortured soul and co-ardice to actually do that, Arthur +immesdale also had to put up -ith BfriendshipC -ith a devil called 5o1er Chillin1-orth/ 0he -hole situation tested minister:s )oth physical and mental endurance/ In the end, -hen he confessed his sin -ith .ester, as -ell as the paternity to Pearl, the sun em)raced the three of them on the scaffold/ .is love for Fod and for the reli1ious principles to -hich he dedicated his life could not let him )e happy -ith the -oman in an earthly relationship/ Let, it surely provided him ri1htfully deserved place in .eaven/

'a(at !E 6or?s Cited .a-thorne, Nathaniel/ The Scarlet Letter/ Ne- Lor?" 5einhart M Co/, Inc/, !=8E/ Print/ atthiessen, F/ 3/ American Renaissance/ Ne- Lor?" 3*ford University Press, !=@;/ Print/ illin1ton, 5/ Cambridge Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne/ Cam)rid1e" Cam)rid1e University Press, 200</ Print/ 6a1en?necht, D/ Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Man, His Tales and Romances/ Ne- Lor?" Frederic? Un1ar 'oo?, !=;=/ Print/ 6arren, Austin/ Introduction to The Scarlet Letter/ USA" Introduction copyri1ht, !=<E/ Print/