The four temptations that Dimmesdale encounters on his way home are:
the conversation he had with the Deacon
, what Mistress Hibbins spoke into Dimmesdale’s ears about going to the woods with her at night, lusting towards a young woman, and almost teaching bad things to the youth of the town.
What temptations does Dimmesdale face in Chapter 20?
As if possessed, Dimmesdale returns to the town, a man on fire. He is tempted several times by
the irrational, wild, blasphemous
, and — what Dimmesdale calls “involuntary” — desire to do wicked things to members of his congregation and perfect strangers. Even Mistress Hibbins recognizes him as a kindred spirit.
What is Dimmesdale tempted to do as he returns to his room?
What is Dimmesdale tempted to do as he returns to his room? Why? He is tempted
to teach dirty words to a group of small puritan children
. Because this is a reaction to the freedom and passion that Dimmesdale now feels.
Why does Pearl reject Dimmesdale’s kiss?
Why does she reject Dimmesdale’s kiss? Pearl cannot imagine Hester without the scarlet letter, and is connected to it. Pearl rejects Dimmesdale’s kiss
because he refuses to go back into town holding hers and Hester’s hands
. She is unsure if Dimmesdale truly is her father, so this leads to the action she has done.
What disturbing things did Dimmesdale feel like doing?
What disturbing things did Dimmesdale feel like doing?
Tell dirty jokes with a sailor, teach little kids bad words, use dirty language
, and tell a widow that there is no after life.
How 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 is the black man in the scarlet letter?
The Black Man Within
Case in point:
Roger Chillingworth
, Hester’s long-lost husband now living under a new name and unrecognized by everyone except Hester. He is so consumed by revenge against Dimmesdale that his soul withers. He becomes a deformed and fiendish abomination of his former self.
Why does Pearl call Dimmesdale a strange sad man?
Why does Pearl call Dimmesdale a strange, sad man?
Dimmesdale will, once again, pretend not to know Hester and Pearl in public, but will only acknowledge them while “hidden” in the forest or under the cover of night
. … This “change” in Hester makes Pearl feel uneasy.
Why does Hester put the scarlet letter back on?
Hester puts the scarlet letter back on
because it is an important part of her identity
, and it allows her to be defiant and help other women, yet it was Hawthorne’s design for her to come back because she is best able to embody these ideals by sacrificing her freedom from the scarlet letter. …
Why does Pearl make Hester don the scarlet letter again?
Why does Pearl make Hester don the scarlet letter again, and why must Hester pick it up? Pearl makes Hester don the scarlet letter again
because Pearl feels estranged to Hester without it
. Hester must pick it up because she has to go back into the town for a few more days.
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.
Why does Pearl wash her forehead?
She may subconsciously feel that
receiving a kiss from Dimmesdale
, who has, of course, committed a very grievous sin in the eyes of the community, somehow taints her with sin, too. That being the case, her washing off of Dimmesdale’s kiss can be seen as a sign of Pearl remaining unmarked by the sin of her father.
What forbidden question does Pearl ask when she sees Dimmesdale?
The forbidden question that Pearl asks Hester is
if Dimmesdale can kiss her in broad daylight in front of the townspeople
. Hester quickly quiets Pearl, and tells her to not speak of that again.
Does 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 didn’t Dimmesdale reveal his sin?
Arthur Dimmesdale did not confess his sins for all the wrong reasons. He didn’t confess for mostly two reasons those being:
his belief that man did not judge other men but only God can do that
or that he will better serve his people with a sinful heart and not a sinful appearance.
What sin did Dimmesdale commit?
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale falls in love with Hester Prynne and commits
adultery
.
