Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
2/11/10
Scarlet Letter Essay 1

Dimmesdale’s Torment

The deep pain of guilt, no matter the situation, always penetrates deep into a person’s soul. This fact is no truer than in the case of Reverend Dimmesdale. Countless factors went into making Dimmesdale’s punishment so personal and unbearable for him. Part of him suffering was brought on by exterior sources, while another component of his anguish was erected from interior problems. The accumulation of Dimmesdale’s crisis, both internally and externally, was begotten by his key role in society, his moral character, and his desire to spread Christianity to others.


In The Scarlet Letter, Reverend Dimmesdale is looked upon by society as the ultimate leader of faith. He is the pinnacle of virtue in Boston and is revered by everyone that knows his name. The worship shown to Dimmesdale is not without just cause as he exhibits many admirable characteristics that are respected by the townspeople. Dimmesdale does not take his position in society lightly as he makes it his duty to be as honorable a human being as possible. The trust and continued faith of his followers is Dimmesdale’s principal belief that allows him all the hardships he endures. Dimmesdale must remain at this high state of purity to maintain the faith of those that look up to him, and any scandal against him would go against the heart of the church and everything he believes in.


Without a doubt, Dimmesdale suffered the most agonizing punishment for his involvement with Hester. It can be debated that Hester suffered a more traumatic punishment caused by external forces with the “A” being placed on her chest, and being reminded about her sin by the town on a daily basis. Conversely, the mental anguish Dimmesdale frequently accepted from Chillingworth is an unbearable punishment in it of itself. Chillingworth repeatedly would bring up situations that would remind Dimmesdale of his sin, causing Dimmesdale to feel worse and worse. On top of that, Dimmesdale relentlessly questioned his character in the years following the incident and destroyed himself internally, causing a physical change in his appearance. The mental agony Dimmesdale put himself through truly shows how much he cared about his position atop society. Dimmesdale could not forgive himself for committing adultery, but also not telling of his sin in the first place. Being the highest point of virtue in Boston, the terrible feeling of hypocrisy was far worse than the original crime. The more and more people worship Dimmesdale for his honest and noble work, the more pain he feels inside because they do not know the truth about his past: “I have laughed, in bitterness and agony of heart, at the contrast between what I seem and what I am!” (Hawthorne 173). These wretched emotions deep in Dimmesdale’s soul could simply break the man, but maintains his fortitude because of his excessive passion to preserve the church and its teachings.


Dimmesdale’s punishment is perfect for him because it puts him in a complex ultimatum. Being the supreme figurehead of virtue in society, everyone looks up to him to do the right thing. It is impossible for Dimmesdale to admit his mistake in order to preserve the Christian faith in the people. If the people of Boston found out that their most noble leader was involved in such a shameful act that ruined his reputation so, the less morally upright citizens would lose hope that they could ever achieve true happiness. Dimmesdale’s passion for his faith allows him to accept the moral pain that would come to him in order to keep his secret from the public.


The suffering Dimmesdale felt throughout the years was the perfect punishment because of how his character and faith forced him to make decisions resulting in his own suffering, but benefitted the greater good. The depressing guilt from committing one mistake lingered in the heart of the sinner Dimmesdale for many years, but the virtuous and faithful man that he is, was able to use his sin as an opportunity to become closer with the people and to inspire them even more than he ever could when he was innocent. Dimmesdale’s ability to accept his brutal punishment enabled him to gain redemption within himself and become a better man for it in the end.