Thursday, 25 April 2013

What are the sins of Arthur Dimmesdale in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter?

In
Hawthorne's indictment against secret sin and the psychological effects of
sin, , the Reverendcommits sins against the Ten Commandments; also,
he commits one of the Cardinal, or Seven Deadly Sins.  Because Reverend Dimmesdale is a Puritan
minister, the commandments that he violates, in accord with the Protestant version, are #7
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" and #9 "Thou shalt not bear false witness."
The Cardinal sin that he commits is the sin of Pride.


Adultery

As Hawthorne's
narrative progresses, it becomes apparent to the reader that Dimmesdale is tortured by some
inner conflict in his soul.  Certainly,suspects him of being his wife's paramour as he
stealthily ingratiates himself into the minister's home and continually questions the minister
about what troubles him.  When Chillingworth dances in delight one night in Chapter X after
pulling away the minister's vestment and detecting an identifying mark of this sin...

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