How Does Dimmesdale feel About His Role As The Much-Respected Minister in The Community, And Why Doesn't He Thrive Amid The People Who Admire Him So...

, while
grateful for the respect and concern of the members of his parish, is weighed down by the guilt
of secrecy and hypocrisy.

In the beginning of the novel, Dimmesdale openly
criticizes, punishes, and publicly humiliatesfor her crime of adultery. He stands upon the
scaffold and demands that she reveal the identity of the father of her illegitimate child to
himself and the other community members who are present to watch and judge her. Hester holds her
silence because the father is Dimmesdale, the town minister, and she wants to protect his
reputation. This decision proves to be a blessing and a...