He puts his hand over his heart to “cover” up his guilt and pain for not admitting to the sin he committed . He’s trying to hold himself back from not exposing himself.
What page does Dimmesdale put his hand over his heart?
Chapter 16 A Forest Walk .
What advantage does Dimmesdale think Hester has over himself?
What advantage does Dimmesdale think Hester has over himself? She doesn’t have the secret hidden filled with as much guilt.
Who is Hester’s baby daddy?
Dimmesdale is a young man who achieved fame in England as a theologian and then emigrated to America. In a moment of weakness, he and Hester became lovers. Although he will not confess it publicly, he is the father of her child.
How did Dimmesdale get the A on his chest?
At this point in the narrative, Chillingworth had been suspecting that something other than physical is gnawing away at the minister. 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.
Does Dimmesdale show any remorse for his actions?
Dimmesdale is the character who suffered the most throughout Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. ... Dimmesdale’s ever present guilt and boundless penance cause him an ongoing mental struggle of remorse and his conscience as well as deep physical pain from deprivation and self inflicted wounds.
What garments is Hester not allowed to sew?
While Hester Prynne (the protagonist from Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter)is able to sew “for the ceremonials of pomp and state” she was not allowed to “ embroider the white veil .” Hester has been charged and sentenced with committing adultery proven by her illegitimate child, Pearl.
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.
Who committed the worst sin in Scarlet Letter?
Roger Chillingworth is by far the worst sinner in The Scarlet Letter.
Why does Hester not reveal the father?
Hester keeps secret the name of her illegitimate child’s father (Reverend Dimmesdale) and the true identity of Roger Chillingworth (her husband). She will not reveal Pearl’s father to protect Reverend Dimmesdale’s reputation , as he is the minister of the church.
What was Hester’s punishment?
The stranger tells him that Hester refuses to reveal her fellow sinner. As punishment, she has been sentenced to three hours on the scaffold and a lifetime of wearing the scarlet letter on her chest.
How does Chillingworth find out that Dimmesdale is the father?
Chillingworth is trying to find out who the father of Pearl is. He is confused to the illness that Dimmsdale is suffering from and can’t find a cure for him. One day when Dimmsdale is asleep, Chillingworth sneaks over to him and pushes his shirt aside. He then sees a mark on the man’s chest.
What does Chillingworth see when he finds Dimmesdale asleep?
One day, not long afterward, Chillingworth finds Dimmesdale asleep in a chair . Pulling aside the minister’s vestment, he stares at the clergyman’s chest. What he sees there causes “a wild look of wonder, joy, and horror,” and he does a spontaneous dance of ecstasy.
What happens to Chillingworth after death of Dimmesdale?
Chillingworth’s Legacy
One such man known for the ‘Devil’s work,’ Roger Chillingworth, becomes weak and drained after Dimmesdale’s death. Now deprived of someone to vent his hatred on, Chillingworth dies shortly after Dimmesdale and leaves a large portion of his estate to Hester Prynne’s daughter, Pearl.
How does Dimmesdale punish himself physically?
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. ... He decides to hold a vigil on the scaffold where, years before, Hester suffered for her sin.
What are 3 ways Dimmesdale deals with his guilt?
To relieve his guilt, Dimmesdale punishes himself in several ways. He goes without food and sleep for long periods of time , and he also whips himself on his back, causing cuts and bleeding. These attempts to atone for his sins do not work.
