The Double Life Exposed in The Scarlet Letter Essay

The Double Life Exposed in The Scarlet Letter Irish novelist Brian Moore observed, There comes a point in many peoples lives when they can no longer play the role they have chosen for themselves. From Hollywood movie stars to professional athletes, people have and will continue to lead false lives, under the public spotlight, concealing their personal travails. In literature, the preceding statement has held true numerous times, in works such as Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter. Minister and respected citizen, Arthur Dimmesdale, was perceived as an upstanding member of the community who preached the word of the heavenly Father. But before the public, he was only camouflaging his†¦show more content†¦This was the case during a service following his vigil when, Souls... were brought to the truth by the efficacy of that sermon, and vowed within themselves to cherish a holy gratitude towards Mr. Dimmesdale (108). Hawthorne made Dimmesdales public character so morally, scholarly, and biblically flawless, that his hidden past literally killed him from the inside. Hawthorne used Dimmesdales secret passion with Hester to engineer his relentless downfall. Despite feelings of remorse for his sin, Dimmesdales internal fire could not be extinguished until he publicly confessed his sin. However, this process of publicly confessing his sin was a lengthy one indeed. Over that course of time, seven years to be exact, we observed the mental and physical decay of Arthur Dimmesdale. While standing on the scaffold Dimmesdale could feel the presence of a spirit gazing down upon him from the heavens, staring at his scarlet token, which lay upon his right, naked breast. Hawthorne noted that Dimmesdale had felt, On that spot, in very truth, there was, and there had long been, the gnawing and poisonous tooth of bodily pain (102). To support Hawthorne, critic Seymour Gross stated, Dimmesdale must struggle to make himself a fit receptacle for Gods grace before his A can be purged (338). Dimmesdale himself gave us a glimpse into his personal sufferings, byShow MoreRelatedA Matter of The Heart Essay1446 Words   |  6 Pageslasting consequences that affect all of life. Many characters in Hawthorne’s works go through their lives struggling as they try to cope with the guilt and shame associated with their actions. Some try to conceal their sin in order to avoid the consequences that will result, while others are seen outwardly suffering the consequences of their actions. Those who try to conceal their sin find that the inward consequences continue to grow. The Scarlet Letter is an example of Hawthorne’s recognitionRead MoreEssay The Truth Behind Lies 1182 Words   |  5 Pagesmisunderstanding. The novel, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, emphasizes how sin and lies lead to humiliation and punishment. 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