The Scarlet Letter # 1

"'People say,' said another, 'that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor, takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon his congregation'(Hawthorne 48-49).

I may be stretching here, but this passage leads me to believe that Reverend Dimmesdale could be the father of Hester's baby. It just seems odd that an author would have a character bring up the Reverend's name and feelings toward the situation if the Reverend is not to have a large role in the story. Having the Reverend as the adulterer would also be a shocking twist for the story, which causes me to suspect him even more. As for his grief, it is only stated that other people have talked of him mourning that a member of his congregation has turned out to be an adulteress. However, his grief(if he even has any in the first place) could be caused by the damage he has done. If he was the lover of Hester, it would make sense that he would feel sorrow for the life she is about to face. Or perhaps he was not the lover, but played some other role in the events taking place in the novel.

"But the point which drew all eyes, and, as it were, transfigured the wearer,-so that both men and women, who had been familiarly acquainted with Hestor Prynne, were now impressed as if they beheld her for the first time,-was that Scarlet Letter, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the odinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself"(51).

The method of imprinting an adulteress with a scarlet A proves to serve its purpose. It causes Hester to be ostracized by the public, who, by tradition, feel obligated to ostracize her. It is amazing how wearing such a symbol can change the views of those you considered acquaintances. I wonder if the effect of the Scarlet Letter builds upon itself. If it does not, than this would have no effect on someone who truly does not care about others opinions of them. There must be some stronger extreme. Perhaps Hester herself will grow to be the one who does not value the public's opinion, and thus answer my quetion. The punishment of ostacism varries in strength depending on the one being punished. I wonder if they have other punsishments for such a crime.