Reverend Dimmesdale's misery

In the book, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is discovered that Hester Prynne had an affair with the highly respected Reverend Dimmesdale. Mr. Dimmesdale, after hiding his sin from everyone for almost seven years, makes this statement to Hester, “ But, as matters stand with my soul, whatever of good capacity there originally was in me, all of God’s gifts that were the choicest have become the ministers of spiritual torment. Hester, I am most miserable!” The Reverend was basically saying that because he typically had a clear conscience, and constantly strove for perfection, this one deep hidden sin was tearing him apart. He even mentions that if he was an atheist and constantly sinned, this one sin of adultery would not be a big deal to him and he would be able to just brush it off, but since he was a pure man, the guilt of this sin was unbearable.

When Arthur Dimmesdale said this, he allowed the reader to get a deeper understanding of the way he really felt on the inside. None of the townspeople had any idea that the reverend, who they adored, had the most detestable of sins hidden within his heart. Every time he gave a sermon he continued teaching and advising people with a mask of purity on. The people almost worshipped the ground he walked on and yet he wasn’t any less of a sinner than they. Even though the Reverend had the people fooled, he could not fool himself. The sin that was hidden in his heard tortured him day after day and never gave him rest. He was even physically ill because of the filthiness of his hidden sin. Dimmesdale was absolutely miserable because he was trying to live with double standards, being one person in one setting and one person in another setting. Once he realizes that he has to confess this sin, and starts to plan on the day he will do it, he had already caused himself to suffer for over seven years. If Reverend Dimmesdale would have confessed the sin right away, although people would look at him in the same way they did Hester, he would have been much better off; he wouldn’t have been half as miserable.

Pearl's Big Question

One of the most important statements contained in The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, was a statement made Pearl, Hester Prynne’s daughter. It is quoted, “’Mother,’ said she, ‘what does the scarlet letter mean?’” This is the first time in the story that Pearl actually questions her mother about the scarlet letter embroidered on her bosom. Many times before, when Pearl was much younger, she would stare at the scarlet letter in awe and wonder. At infancy, she obviously could not talk so no words would come for her to ask her mother. Instead, she constantly gazed upon the letter with a look that asked the question for her. Fortunately for Hester, she didn’t have to answer Pearl when no direct question was asked.

When Pearl was old enough, she finally asked her mom what the letter meant that she had marveled at upon her mother for all of her life. Hester was reluctant to answer and never actually gave Pearl a clear meaning of what the Letter represents. This question that Pearl asked was most likely a question dreaded by her mother for many years. Hester had to have known that Pearl would one day ask about the letter and have to be faced with the purpose and proof of her own existence. This quote is almost like the foundation of the whole story. Hester knew exactly what the letter meant because it haunted her day after day with regret and shame. If Pearl were to find out what the letter actually represented, it could possibly wreck her whole life. At this point in the story, Pearl doesn’t know that she is a child of the most disgusting sin. If Hester comes to the point where she has no other choice but to tell Pearl the true meaning of the Letter, Pearl could be changed forever; she could end up having hatred toward her mother and never speaking to her again. Hester was aware of what the outcome could be if Pearl found out the true meaning of the scarlet letter and she feared that very outcome. If Hester lost Pearl, she would have no one.

The Outside Appearance

In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mr. Dimmesdale makes the statement, “So, to their own unutterable torment, they go about among their fellow-creatures, looking pure as new-fallen snow; while their hearts are all speckled and spotted with iniquity of which they cannot rid themselves.” Mr. Dimmesdale made this statement while he and Roger Chillingworth were discussing the possible cause of his illness. Dimmesdale thought that the reason he was sick was because of the sins hidden deep in his heart. He really wanted to confess the sin but since he was the reverend and was revered by the people he felt like he could not. Even when he tried to open his mouth and let the words pour out, nothing would come. So, Reverend Dimmesdale lived with a secret hidden in his heart that made his life miserable and caused him physical illness.

When Mr. Dimmesdale said this, he was referring to the deep sins and secrets that people can hide within their hearts without anyone knowing it. People can live having the appearance of being pure while their hearts are defiled with great wickedness. This statement is important to the whole story because there are many characters within the story that all appear one way on the outside but on the inside they are completely different. Mr. Dimmesdale was the reverend who people thought of as pure and righteous but he had hidden in his heart a sin worthy of death. He was an adulterer and yet on the outside people viewed him as being so holy that the ground on which his feet walked was considered holy. Roger Chillingworth also appeared to be a normal physician who was new to the town, but in actuality, he was Hester Prynne’s former husband. No one could tell that Roger even knew Hester but he had the secret hidden in his heart. These are just two of the characters from the story that have hidden secrets that the reader knows of. Based on the quote stated above, one cannot know the things hidden in a person’s heart. A person cannot be defined by what they appear to be on the outside. Who knows, there could be many other characters in The Scarlet Letter who have secrets that are unknown to the reader just like the ones stated above.

Pearl brings happiness and torture

In the book The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne makes the statement, “She is my happiness!-she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too!”(98) When Hester said this, she was referring to the range of emotions that her daughter, Pearl, brings to her life. Although Hester loves to watch Pearl play and have fun in pure innocence, Pearl is also a constant reminder of the sin and adultery that Hester committed. Although Pearl causes so much grief and torture to her mother, Hester could not live without her daughter; Pearl is her everything.
This quote is significant in understanding the character of Hester Prynne. Hester is very ashamed of what she did and is constantly faced with the guilt of it. It is bad enough that there is a constant reminder of her fall embroidered on her clothing, but Pearl is a living reminder that can look her mother in the eyes and pierce her to the heart. Hester viewed Pearl as a wonderful blessing from God as well as a type of punishment for her sin. She loved her Pearl dearly but it hurt her to see that she had bore a child into a disgraceful place in life.
It was a lose-lose situation for the officials who wanted to take Pearl from Hester’s guidance. If they took Pearl away, Hester would be very upset as it would be a form of punishment. However, when Pearl was with Hester, the punishment was just as harsh. It is very important to see that because of Hester’s sin, the greatest thing in her life also turns out to be the most terrifying. I personally believe that Pearl was the greatest punishment that Hester would ever receive, but without Pearl in Hester’s life, she probably would not make it through.

Quote from chapter 5 of The Scarlet Letter

In the book The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the statement is made, “Women derive a pleasure, incomprehensible to the other sex, from the delicate toil of the needle.” (78) The chapter in which this statement can be found describes Hester Prynne’s love for the art of needlework. It is explained that Hester makes a living by doing needle work on many cloths and robes etc. for many people in the town by which she lived. It is also implied that she is very good at needle work and made some beautiful clothing. The quote stated above describes how women find a sense of peace and pleasure from working with needles.
I think this quote is basically saying that although working with needles can be a very tedious and maybe even frustrating job, women find pleasure in it. The quote also mentions that this concept cannot be understood by men. Therefore, the tedious job of needlework is not a pleasurable job in general, but is only pleasurable for women. I think the reason that women appreciate and enjoy needlework is because women appreciate clothing and their appearance more than men do in most cases. It is enjoyable for women because by hand crafting materials together and making designs on clothing they are playing a part in creating the beauty of clothing and adornment.
This quote is significant to this book because it describes a way in which Hester can get some kind of relief from all the guilt and shame that terrorizes her. Although while she was on the pedestal she appeared to be almost unaffected by the scarlet letter of shame on her garment, it burned to the depths of her heart and her shame and guilt grew stronger every day. The needlework which occupied much of her lonely life gave her a sense of joy. It seems like Hester almost feels guilty for being able to do the needlework because she doesn’t think that she deserves to enjoy anything anymore. I think that the needle work that she does will play a big role in helping her cope and get through life.