Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr.George
February 12, 2010
Scarlet Letter Essay 1
Dimmesdale’s Disastrous Distress
Throughout history, there have been many methods of torture. Rulers and judges attempted to discover the most potent means of punishing criminals, creating such devices as the iron maiden and the rack. While these devices did cause victims to experience a unimaginable amount of physical pain, they could hardly be considered supreme method of torment. True torment is often found in the very soul of a human being. John Calvin, a French Theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation, once said that “The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul”(www.brainyquote.com). Calvin knew exactly what he was talking about, having lived during an age that embraced public forms of torture. True torment is personal and gnaws at a human’s soul, leaving them unable to focus on anything else. The greatest pain that a person can be inflicted with is penitence. Such was the case with Arthur Dimmesdale, a character in The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Arthur Dimmesdale, a beloved and devout pastor, secretly committed sexual acts with Hester Prynne, the novel’s protagonist. Due to this, Hester became pregnant and was forced to wear a scarlet A upon her bosom as a symbol of her adultery. Dimmesdale, who remained secretive about the fact that he was the father of Hester’s child, was filled with remorse for what he did, but could not bring himself to confess to his crime. Dimmesdale’s congregation had a large amount of reverence for him, believing him to be the purest being to ever walk the earth. This caused Dimmesdale to fear that if his sin was known, his followers would lose faith and consider true purity to be unattainable. Due to this fear, Dimmesdale’s sin was made even greater, as he was forced to become a hypocrite.
Dimmesdale’s guilt grew after a long period of seeing Hester being shunned by the town while he was considered completely pure of any sin. He began to live a life of hypocrisy, telling his followers to lead a life of virtue while he himself was a sinner. He knew that he was a hypocrite, and the approval of which he was met by his congregation tormented him: “It is inconceivable, the agony with which this public veneration tortured him!”(Hawthorne 130). He wished for any punishment from the town, whether it was fair or not. He even went as far as proclaiming himself to be a sinner, which only caused his followers to love him more: "Would not the people start up in their seats, by a simultaneous impulse, and tear him down out of the pulpit, which he defiled? Not so, indeed! They heard it all, and did but reverence him more"(131). Dimmesdale’s congregation believed his confesses to be mere critiques of his own soul. As a result, they considered themselves even more unworthy of heaven and attempted to better themselves. This proves to Dimmesdale that his followers will always consider him pure. Finding no punishment from the people, Dimmesdale began to punish himself, striking himself with a whip, fasting for long periods of time, and branding his chest with a scarlet A. These methods of repentance did nothing to aid Dimmesdale’s guilt.
Dimmesdale believed his torment to be a blessing from God, as the more he suffered for his sin in life, the less he would have to suffer for it in the afterlife: “were I worthier to walk there, I could be better content to toil here”(111). This is why he longs for punishment from the people, as he knows that the punishment for his sin would be great in the afterlife if he suffered very little on earth. Despite the torment he is already enduring, Dimmesdale wishes for another to torture him further: “Had I one friend-or were it my worst enemy-to whom, when sickened with the praises of all other men, I could daily betake myself, and be it known as the vilest of all sinners, methinks my soul might keep itself alive thereby. Even thus much of truth would save me!”(173). Dimmesdale knew that he was beloved, and that fact prevented him from enduring public punishment. This knowledge only served to torment him further.
What made Dimmesdale’s torment so poignant for him was that he legitimately cared about his fate. Dimmesdale was a devoted pastor who truly hoped to achieve purity. His sin left a permanent mark on his soul, not unlike the scarlet A he branded upon his chest. In attempting to repent for his actions, his sin was only made greater. He was tormented by the love that his followers had for him when he knew he did not deserve it. He was unable to find the courage to confess to his sin publicly, and thus had to keep his torment bottled up within his soul. When Dimmesdale finally did declare his sin to the town, he was able to free himself of his guilt and died from the punishment he had inflicted upon himself. The punishment that Dimmesdale was forced to endure in life was much greater than anything that the town could have sentenced him to.
Works Cited
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/torture_3.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York, New York: Bantam Dell, 2003
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Scarlet Letter # 10
"Whenever Pearl saw anything to excite her ever-active and wandering curiosity, she flew thitherward, and, as we might say, seized upon that man or thing as her own property, so far as she deserved it"(Hawthorne 219).
It is normal for a young child to go through a selfish stage, but such behavior is described as typical for Pearl's character. It is interesting that Pearl's habit of claiming things as her own is first attributed to men, and then to material possessions. That is very odd, as Pearl has rarely been shown showing any desire to be near anyone other than her mother. Perhaps Pearl's interaction with Dimmesdale has caused her to develope an interest in other people. Just as likely, she may simply desire the attention of everyone she passes. I wonder how long her excitement lasts. That is, how long does it take for her to become bored with the people she claims?
"Nothing was more remarkable than the change which took place, almost immediately after Mr. Dimmesdale's death, in the appearance and demeanor of the old man known as roger Chillingworth. All his strength and energy-all his vital and intellectual force-seemed at once to desert him"(232).
Chillingworth, having focused so many years on making Dimmesdale suffer only for Dimmesdale to escape him, is left with nothing. He no longer has any drive, or reason to continue living. Even though Chillingworth deserves punishment, this is very sad. Chillingworth was, at one time, a very compassionate and intellectual physician. It is a shame that he is unable to return to his former self and continue helping people. Chillingworth's obsession with revenge ended up consuming him to the point where he forgot all about kindness and forgiveness. He threw away his former life of virture to take up a life of vengeance. There was no other life that Chillingworth could live, and he knew it. This is especially clear when Dimmesdale is preparing to confess his sin, and Chillingworth begs him not to. Earlier in the novel, Chillingworth said that Dimmesdale needed to admit to his crime to free himself. However, Chillingworth was not willing to let Dimmesdale do that. Chillingworth was not working for justice, but rather for inflicting damage on another to sustain himself.
It is normal for a young child to go through a selfish stage, but such behavior is described as typical for Pearl's character. It is interesting that Pearl's habit of claiming things as her own is first attributed to men, and then to material possessions. That is very odd, as Pearl has rarely been shown showing any desire to be near anyone other than her mother. Perhaps Pearl's interaction with Dimmesdale has caused her to develope an interest in other people. Just as likely, she may simply desire the attention of everyone she passes. I wonder how long her excitement lasts. That is, how long does it take for her to become bored with the people she claims?
"Nothing was more remarkable than the change which took place, almost immediately after Mr. Dimmesdale's death, in the appearance and demeanor of the old man known as roger Chillingworth. All his strength and energy-all his vital and intellectual force-seemed at once to desert him"(232).
Chillingworth, having focused so many years on making Dimmesdale suffer only for Dimmesdale to escape him, is left with nothing. He no longer has any drive, or reason to continue living. Even though Chillingworth deserves punishment, this is very sad. Chillingworth was, at one time, a very compassionate and intellectual physician. It is a shame that he is unable to return to his former self and continue helping people. Chillingworth's obsession with revenge ended up consuming him to the point where he forgot all about kindness and forgiveness. He threw away his former life of virture to take up a life of vengeance. There was no other life that Chillingworth could live, and he knew it. This is especially clear when Dimmesdale is preparing to confess his sin, and Chillingworth begs him not to. Earlier in the novel, Chillingworth said that Dimmesdale needed to admit to his crime to free himself. However, Chillingworth was not willing to let Dimmesdale do that. Chillingworth was not working for justice, but rather for inflicting damage on another to sustain himself.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Scarlet Letter # 9
"'Yes; now I will!' answered the child, bounding across the brook and clasping Hester in her arms. 'Now thou art my mother indeed! And I am thy little Pearl!"(190).
While Pearl's tantrum may have been caused by a child's inability to cope with change as Hester said, I believe it may go deeper than that. I believe that Pearl's attachment to the scarlet letter is not merely caused by the fact that she is used to seeing her mother wear it. In a stange way, Pearl may very well love the scarlet letter. It was mentioned earlier in the novel that the scarlet letter was the first thing that Pearl saw. That in itself could have caused Pearl to become infatuated with it. After all, many animals recognize the first being they see at birth to be their mother. Since Pearl is always described as wild, it is not impossible that she could have some animalistic tendencies. The fact that Pearl goes back to behaving like her normal self after Hester puts the scarlet letter back on may mean that Pearl does not believe Hester to be her mother without the scarlet letter. Also, Pearl's insistance that Hester pick it up and put it back on may mean that Pearl does not want Hester to reject the scarlet letter. Perhaps Pearl can sense Hester's shame and agony, and feeds of it just as Chillingworth feeds off Dimmesdale's shame and agony.
"'Why, know you not,' cried the shipmaster, 'that this physician here-Chillingworth, he calls himself-is minded to try my cabin-fare with you? Ay, ay, you must have known it; for he tells me he is of your party, and a close friend to the gentleman you spoke of,-that he is in peril from these sour old Puritan rulers!'"(210)
Just as Hester and Dimmesdale devise a way to free themselves of their shame, Chillingworth comes up with a way to stomp on their hopes once again. Chillingworth is indeed as intelligent as he is vengeful. I can only imagine what he has planned. Perhaps he will begin tormenting Hester as he did Dimmesdale, now that she has told Dimmesdale of his plan and twarted his hopes of punishing Dimmesdale further. I would not put it past Chillingworth. He was so close to breaking Dimmesdale, but Hester ruined everything for him. Dimmesdale must feel some sort of fury. Or perhaps he considers this more like a challenge. He may have even encouraged Hester to tell Dimmesdale in the hopes of something greater arising as a result. Perhaps deep withing Chillingworth's darkened heart lingered a sense of boredom. He could be attempting to amuse himself by bringing his twisted game to a new level. After all, Chillingworth has been compared to the devil many times. In most legends, the devil has a great interest in games that involve a gamble of some sort.
While Pearl's tantrum may have been caused by a child's inability to cope with change as Hester said, I believe it may go deeper than that. I believe that Pearl's attachment to the scarlet letter is not merely caused by the fact that she is used to seeing her mother wear it. In a stange way, Pearl may very well love the scarlet letter. It was mentioned earlier in the novel that the scarlet letter was the first thing that Pearl saw. That in itself could have caused Pearl to become infatuated with it. After all, many animals recognize the first being they see at birth to be their mother. Since Pearl is always described as wild, it is not impossible that she could have some animalistic tendencies. The fact that Pearl goes back to behaving like her normal self after Hester puts the scarlet letter back on may mean that Pearl does not believe Hester to be her mother without the scarlet letter. Also, Pearl's insistance that Hester pick it up and put it back on may mean that Pearl does not want Hester to reject the scarlet letter. Perhaps Pearl can sense Hester's shame and agony, and feeds of it just as Chillingworth feeds off Dimmesdale's shame and agony.
"'Why, know you not,' cried the shipmaster, 'that this physician here-Chillingworth, he calls himself-is minded to try my cabin-fare with you? Ay, ay, you must have known it; for he tells me he is of your party, and a close friend to the gentleman you spoke of,-that he is in peril from these sour old Puritan rulers!'"(210)
Just as Hester and Dimmesdale devise a way to free themselves of their shame, Chillingworth comes up with a way to stomp on their hopes once again. Chillingworth is indeed as intelligent as he is vengeful. I can only imagine what he has planned. Perhaps he will begin tormenting Hester as he did Dimmesdale, now that she has told Dimmesdale of his plan and twarted his hopes of punishing Dimmesdale further. I would not put it past Chillingworth. He was so close to breaking Dimmesdale, but Hester ruined everything for him. Dimmesdale must feel some sort of fury. Or perhaps he considers this more like a challenge. He may have even encouraged Hester to tell Dimmesdale in the hopes of something greater arising as a result. Perhaps deep withing Chillingworth's darkened heart lingered a sense of boredom. He could be attempting to amuse himself by bringing his twisted game to a new level. After all, Chillingworth has been compared to the devil many times. In most legends, the devil has a great interest in games that involve a gamble of some sort.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Scarlet Letter #8
"But then the elf-child sighed, and gave up her sport; because it grieved her to have done harm to a living being that was as wild as the sea-breeze, or as wild as Pearl herself"(Hawthorne 160).
Throughout the novel, Pearl has been constantly described as a michievous imp, due to her strange behavior and habit of causing trouble. However, this quote makes me think that there is more to Pearl than meets the eye. She clearly has at least some small bit of sympathy, having felt remorse for injuring a bird. How far this sympathy goes is unclear. She may have only regretted throwing stones at the birds because the birds represented qualities found in herself. Perhaps her sympathy goes further than that. She may just not want to hurt other living things. Either way, through crippling the bird, Pearl experienced regret, which is rare for most children of her age. Seeing as she is clearly wise beyond her years, I would not be surprised if she had developed a conscience this early.
"'We were not, Hester, the worst sinners in the world. There is one worse than even the polluted priest! That old man's revenge has been blacker than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart. Thou and I, Hester, never did so!'"(176).
Dimmesdale speaks the truth. While Hester and Dimmesdale's mutual sin was a serious one, it never hurt anyone. The pain inflicted on Hester and Dimmesdale was from the society the lived in, not the sin itself. Chillingworth, however, is committing a horrible sin that hurts not only Hester and Dimmesdale, but also has the potential to hurt the whole town. If anything were to happen to Dimmesdale, the town would lose all hope. By torturing Dimmesdale, Chillingworth endangers Dimmesdale's very life. Chillingworth is truly an abomination. He goes beyond mere retribution and crosses over to sadism. He is no longer torturing Dimmesdale to set things right, but rather torturing Dimmesdale because enjoys doing so. Hester and Dimmesdale have already served their punishment. Hopefully, it will soon be Chillingworth's turn.
Throughout the novel, Pearl has been constantly described as a michievous imp, due to her strange behavior and habit of causing trouble. However, this quote makes me think that there is more to Pearl than meets the eye. She clearly has at least some small bit of sympathy, having felt remorse for injuring a bird. How far this sympathy goes is unclear. She may have only regretted throwing stones at the birds because the birds represented qualities found in herself. Perhaps her sympathy goes further than that. She may just not want to hurt other living things. Either way, through crippling the bird, Pearl experienced regret, which is rare for most children of her age. Seeing as she is clearly wise beyond her years, I would not be surprised if she had developed a conscience this early.
"'We were not, Hester, the worst sinners in the world. There is one worse than even the polluted priest! That old man's revenge has been blacker than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart. Thou and I, Hester, never did so!'"(176).
Dimmesdale speaks the truth. While Hester and Dimmesdale's mutual sin was a serious one, it never hurt anyone. The pain inflicted on Hester and Dimmesdale was from the society the lived in, not the sin itself. Chillingworth, however, is committing a horrible sin that hurts not only Hester and Dimmesdale, but also has the potential to hurt the whole town. If anything were to happen to Dimmesdale, the town would lose all hope. By torturing Dimmesdale, Chillingworth endangers Dimmesdale's very life. Chillingworth is truly an abomination. He goes beyond mere retribution and crosses over to sadism. He is no longer torturing Dimmesdale to set things right, but rather torturing Dimmesdale because enjoys doing so. Hester and Dimmesdale have already served their punishment. Hopefully, it will soon be Chillingworth's turn.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Scarlet Letter #7
"Such helpfulness was found in her,-so much power to do, and power to sympathize,-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able"(Hawthorne 146)
It is very surprising that people in a puritan society would behave in such a manner. I was under the impression that Hester was doomed to a life of shame no matter what she did. However, her kindness and devotion is restoring the image that her adultery had originally destroyed. This society is clearly very different from the one in The Crucible, where the mere mention of a sin could lead to someone being put to death. This may not have always been. After all, the initial view we get of this society is nothing like the view we get of them now. Where there were once people desiring Hester's flesh to be branded, there are now people who find Hester venerable. Perhaps the town is evolving to take up Jesus' message of forgiveness and repentance. Or maybe the town expected Heter to behave wickedly due to the Scarlet Letter she wears, and were shocked to see her demonstrate so much compassion. If public opinion of Hester continues to change this way, it will completely destroy the system of the Scarlet Letter.
"'Woman, I could well nigh pity thee!' said Rogering Chillingworth, unable to restrain a thrill of admiration, too; for there was a quality almost majestic in the despair which she expressed"(157).
Chillingworth is beginning to lose his mind more and more as the novel progresses. He has become so obsessed with torturing Dimmesdale that he has forgotten what he initially set out to do. Chillingworth seems to have developed a perverted taste for human suffering. While spending much of the novel in a bad humor, he expresses joy after hearing the anguish in Hester's voice. I highly doubt that he will ever end it all. He will most likely continue torturing Dimmesdale for the rest of his life to satisfy himself. I would not be surprised if the medicine Chillingworth concocts for Dimmesdale were to contain some sort of poison. Chillingworth has already fullfilled his motive, and yet continues with his plan. He completely understands how much pain he is causing Dimmesdale, which only makes him want to inflict further damage. Chillingworth blames Dimmesdale for making him into a fiend, and yet continues behaving like a fiend when he could choose to end it all.
It is very surprising that people in a puritan society would behave in such a manner. I was under the impression that Hester was doomed to a life of shame no matter what she did. However, her kindness and devotion is restoring the image that her adultery had originally destroyed. This society is clearly very different from the one in The Crucible, where the mere mention of a sin could lead to someone being put to death. This may not have always been. After all, the initial view we get of this society is nothing like the view we get of them now. Where there were once people desiring Hester's flesh to be branded, there are now people who find Hester venerable. Perhaps the town is evolving to take up Jesus' message of forgiveness and repentance. Or maybe the town expected Heter to behave wickedly due to the Scarlet Letter she wears, and were shocked to see her demonstrate so much compassion. If public opinion of Hester continues to change this way, it will completely destroy the system of the Scarlet Letter.
"'Woman, I could well nigh pity thee!' said Rogering Chillingworth, unable to restrain a thrill of admiration, too; for there was a quality almost majestic in the despair which she expressed"(157).
Chillingworth is beginning to lose his mind more and more as the novel progresses. He has become so obsessed with torturing Dimmesdale that he has forgotten what he initially set out to do. Chillingworth seems to have developed a perverted taste for human suffering. While spending much of the novel in a bad humor, he expresses joy after hearing the anguish in Hester's voice. I highly doubt that he will ever end it all. He will most likely continue torturing Dimmesdale for the rest of his life to satisfy himself. I would not be surprised if the medicine Chillingworth concocts for Dimmesdale were to contain some sort of poison. Chillingworth has already fullfilled his motive, and yet continues with his plan. He completely understands how much pain he is causing Dimmesdale, which only makes him want to inflict further damage. Chillingworth blames Dimmesdale for making him into a fiend, and yet continues behaving like a fiend when he could choose to end it all.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Scarlet Letter #6
"Would not the people start up in their seats, by a simultaneous impulse, and tear him down out of the pulpit, which he defiled? Not so, indeed! They heard it all, and did but reverence him more"(Hawthorne 131).
Dimmesdale's predicament is made all the more worse by the public's view of him. Countless times, he told the congregation that he was a wicked man, which the public responds to with reverence. Everyone has such a high opinion of Dimmesdale that they can not imagine him committing the tiniest of misdemeanors. This leads the public to believe that Dimmesdale's claims of being tainted by sin are a self-analysis based on pureness. The public then feels that if Dimmesdale where to analyze their sins, he would find them to be abominations. This could possibly motivate the people to try harder to be pure, but that is the only possible good that could come from their ignorance. Dimmesdale is really trying to confess his sins to receive punishment, but the public will not hear it. After seeing the public's devotion too him, it seems that were his true sin to be revealed, it would cause chaos. If Dimmesdale's secret is forever kept, only Dimmesdale would suffer. However, if his crime is made public knowledge, the whole society would suffer. After witnessing the fall of their idol, the whole town would be left without hope.
Dimmesdale's predicament is made all the more worse by the public's view of him. Countless times, he told the congregation that he was a wicked man, which the public responds to with reverence. Everyone has such a high opinion of Dimmesdale that they can not imagine him committing the tiniest of misdemeanors. This leads the public to believe that Dimmesdale's claims of being tainted by sin are a self-analysis based on pureness. The public then feels that if Dimmesdale where to analyze their sins, he would find them to be abominations. This could possibly motivate the people to try harder to be pure, but that is the only possible good that could come from their ignorance. Dimmesdale is really trying to confess his sins to receive punishment, but the public will not hear it. After seeing the public's devotion too him, it seems that were his true sin to be revealed, it would cause chaos. If Dimmesdale's secret is forever kept, only Dimmesdale would suffer. However, if his crime is made public knowledge, the whole society would suffer. After witnessing the fall of their idol, the whole town would be left without hope.
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Scarlet Letter #5
"'This man,' said he, at one such moment,to himself,'pure as they deem him,-all spiritual as he seems,-hath inherited a strong animal nature from his father or his mother. Let us dig a little further in the direction of this vein!'"(Hawthorne 118).
It is absolutely clear now that Chillingworth suspects Dimmesdale to be Hester's lover. In fact, Chillingworth considers Dimmesdale to be a prime suspect. Earlier in the chapter, it was stated that Chillingworth was interested in Dimmesdale for something other than his medical condition. The second factor of Chillingworth's interest in Dimmesdale is most likely found in suspicion. This also shows Chillingworth's ability to analyze people, which was mentioned several times previously but not truly shown until now. Chillingworth proves himself to be a learned man by not revealing his suspicions of Dimmesdale directly, and choosing to wait for more information.The way that this is revealed to us could also hint that Chillingworth has a deep malicious intent in mind. After all, it is usually the villains who give speeches in the form of soliloquies.
"'Why should not the guilty ones sooner avail themselves of this unutterable solace?' 'They mostly do,' said the clergyman, gripping hard at his breast as if afflicted with an importunate throb of pain"(120).
This passage shows both Chillingworth's tactics of analyzation and Dimmesdale's guilt. Chillingworth, through a series of questions that would seem like ordinary queries to a reverend, is attempting to learn more about Dimmesdale. From Dimmesdale's reaction, it is clear that Chillingworth's strategy is working. Chillingworth choses to build up to a question about the confession of sins. Dimmesdale, having his own hidden sin, is pained by such a question as it reminds him of all that he has done wrong. Chillingworth is able to gain information without making it obvious that he is trying to do so. Seeing as how Dimmesdale is diseased by his guilt, it is likely that Chillingworth will succeed in whatever plan he has.
It is absolutely clear now that Chillingworth suspects Dimmesdale to be Hester's lover. In fact, Chillingworth considers Dimmesdale to be a prime suspect. Earlier in the chapter, it was stated that Chillingworth was interested in Dimmesdale for something other than his medical condition. The second factor of Chillingworth's interest in Dimmesdale is most likely found in suspicion. This also shows Chillingworth's ability to analyze people, which was mentioned several times previously but not truly shown until now. Chillingworth proves himself to be a learned man by not revealing his suspicions of Dimmesdale directly, and choosing to wait for more information.The way that this is revealed to us could also hint that Chillingworth has a deep malicious intent in mind. After all, it is usually the villains who give speeches in the form of soliloquies.
"'Why should not the guilty ones sooner avail themselves of this unutterable solace?' 'They mostly do,' said the clergyman, gripping hard at his breast as if afflicted with an importunate throb of pain"(120).
This passage shows both Chillingworth's tactics of analyzation and Dimmesdale's guilt. Chillingworth, through a series of questions that would seem like ordinary queries to a reverend, is attempting to learn more about Dimmesdale. From Dimmesdale's reaction, it is clear that Chillingworth's strategy is working. Chillingworth choses to build up to a question about the confession of sins. Dimmesdale, having his own hidden sin, is pained by such a question as it reminds him of all that he has done wrong. Chillingworth is able to gain information without making it obvious that he is trying to do so. Seeing as how Dimmesdale is diseased by his guilt, it is likely that Chillingworth will succeed in whatever plan he has.
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