Hawthornes Moral Wilderness

(Arthur Dimmesdale)
By Ivin Yu, Aleks Piibe, Sunny Sun, and Allison Maryoung Period 4 The Scarlet Gerber

Thesis
Through the use of paradox, Nathaniel Hawthorne presents Arthur Dimmesdale as a conflicted man who struggles between his Puritan concepts and human instincts; suggesting that human nature is full of contradictions.

The OTHER Adulterer

Arthur has proven to be a dynamic character. He is physically weaker and older.

He clutches his heart.

Dimmesdales defining trait is his powerful voice His speeches have become more powerful.

Hester Prynne is his light.

He looked haggard and feeble...as if he saw no reason for taking one step farther, nor felt any desire to do so (155-156). His form grew emaciated; his voice had a certain melancholy prophecy of decay in it; he was often observed...to put his hand over his heart, with first a flush and then a paleness, indicative of pain (100).

The Minister of Contradictions

Dimmesdales background and role in society are Scholar from Oxford University Theologian from England and emigrated to America The minister of the Puritan town of Salem o Gives public sermons

Breaks the rules and commits adultery with Hester Prynne and becomes Pearls father

Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, a young clergyman, who had come from one of the great English universities, bringing all the learning of the age into our wild forest-land (57). The moment that he did so, there came what seemed a tumultuous rush of new life, other life than his own, pouring like a torrent into his heart, and hurrying through all his veins, as if the mother and the child were communicating their vital warmth to his half-torpid system. The three

The Scarlet Letters Outlook

Dimmesdales name serves as both a positive and negative connotation. Dimmesdale begins to fade or dim away. Dim is not completely dark or light. Hester is Dimmesdales "dark secret" but he does not come out in the light (the public) and open up about it.

Quote: "'Wilt thou stand here with mother and me, to-morrow noontide?' inquired Pearl... 'Nay; not so, my little Pearl!'" (Hawthorne 142). Quote: Some declared, that, if Mr. Dinnesdale were really going to die, it was cause enough, that the world was not worthy to be any longer trodden by his feet (111).