Dimmesdale believes that by finally confessing his secret, he has saved his soul: “Had either of these agonies been wanting, I had been lost for ever!” He dies at peace . ... Dimmesdale dies believing that his soul has been saved, but he does not get the chance to enjoy a life with Hester and Pearl.
Who killed Arthur Dimmesdale?
But both say physician Roger Chillingworth used poison to murder the Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, the preacher who fathered a child by adulteress Hester Prynne. Chillingworth was Prynne's husband.
How did Reverend Dimmesdale die?
Reverend Dimmesdale dies of an illness that haunts his soul . Tormented by his terrible guilt and the psychological torture of Roger Chillingworth who has vowed that “he will be mine,” Dimmesdale is so burdened spiritually that his health fails and he can bear his sin no more.
What is Dimmesdale suffering from?
His guilt was mentally torturing him and drove him to despair . The uncontrollable helpless feeling of despair brought Dimmesdale immense suffering to the point where he almost lost his mind. Dimmesdale, unlike Hester, had an undying guilt that would forever torture him until his death.
Did Dimmesdale die in Hester's arms?
Answer and Explanation: Dimmesdale being consumed with guilt for being Hester's secret lover and father of her child becomes very ill. ... Hester and her daughter Pearl are in the crowd of people and after Dimmesdale confesses he was Hester's lover and Pearl's father, he falls to the ground and dies in Hester's arms .
How did Dimmesdale get the A on his chest?
He discovers that Dimmesdale, out of the guilt and sadness he feels from what occurs with Hester, has carved a letter “A ” on his chest. This act of self-mutilation is essentially his own way to “share” the pain of Hester's humiliation.
Does Hester still love Dimmesdale?
During the past seven years Dimmesdale has been continually tormented by the dichotomy between what he is and what people believe him to be. ... Hester realizes that she still loves Dimmesdale , and she courageously tells him this, even as she reveals her silence concerning Chillingworth.
Did Dimmesdale confess his sin?
Dimmesdale confesses his sin in the only way that he knows to be true , in front of all the people he was dishonest to and through the influence of God. ... ‘ He was dishonest to the one soul he promised he never would be, and that was God.
Why is Dimmesdale dying?
Reverend Dimmesdale dies of an illness that haunts his soul . Tormented by his terrible guilt and the psychological torture of Roger Chillingworth who has vowed that “he will be mine,” Dimmesdale is so burdened spiritually that his health fails and he can bear his sin no more.
What is Chillingworth's most serious sin?
Roger Chillingworth's most horrible sin is this: In seeking revenge , he sets out to deliberately and methodically destroy another human being, Arthur Dimmesdale .
What did Dimmesdale punish himself?
As a result, his self-probing keeps him up at night, and he even sees visions. ... Dimmesdale begins to torture himself physically: he scourges himself with a whip, he fasts, and he holds extended vigils , during which he stays awake throughout the night meditating upon his sin.
Who suffered the most in Scarlet Letter?
In summary, I believe that Arthur Dimmesdale suffers the most out of the three main characters of The Scarlet Letter. He brings a great deal of the suffering upon himself by keeping his feelings locked inside of himself, fasting, studying unceasingly, and holding frequent night- long vigils.
Why does Dimmesdale hide his sin?
In Chapter 10 of “The Scarlet Letter”, Chillingworth already suspects Dimmesdale of being the father of Pearl and he is digging, trying to find out if he can coax the truth from the minister. Dimmesdale seems to be hiding something because he his the father of Pearl and does not want to admit it to anyone .
Why did Hester Prynne cheat on her husband?
Ultimately, Hester begins to realize that the act which gave her Pearl could never be wholly evil, as her community claims. She realizes that Dimmesdale is her true husband and that the only time she committed adultery was when she gave herself to Chillingworth, a man she didn't love.
What are Dimmesdale's last words?
Dimmesdale's very last words are “ Praised be his name! His will be done! Farewell! ” These words are significant because they were spoken after his confession, and then he died.
What happened to Dimmesdale at the end of Chapter 23?
Analysis: Chapters 23–24. This third and final scaffold scene serves as a catharsis, as all unsettled matters are given resolution. Pearl acquires a father, Dimmesdale finally confesses , and Chillingworth definitively loses his chance for revenge.
