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September 21, 2005
He finally admitted it!!!!
After Dimmsdale called Hester and Pearl to the scaffold to be beside him....."..old Rodger Chillingsworth thrust himself through the crows,--or, perhaps, so dark, disturbed, and evil was hiw look, he rose up out of some nether region,--to snatch back his victim from what he sought to do! Be that as it might, the old man rushed forward and caught the minister by the arm. "Madam, hold! What is your purpose?" whispered he. "Wave back that woman! Cast off this child! All shall be well! Do not blacken your fame, and perish in dishonor! I can yet save you! Would you bring infamy on your sacred profession?" "Ha, tempter! Methinks thou are too late!" answered the minister, encountering his eye, fearfully, but firmly. "Thy power it notwhat it was! With God's healp, I shall escape thee now!"
This quote really made me realize how hard Chillingsworth tried to make Dimmsdale's life miserable. Even after Dimmsdale realized he was better off just telling the truth, Chillingsworth repremanded him and said that if he could just hold his secret for one more day, all would be well again. Dimmsdale finally admitted that he was Pearl's father, and she even got to kiss him on the scaffold infront of everyone which she had so longed to do. Even after all the coward things that Dimmsdale has done throughout the book, this ending part makes me respect him more then ever. He loved both Hester and Pearl, and he died trying to reveal his love for them to the entire world.
Posted by ElizabethLudovici at September 21, 2005 03:13 PM
Comments
This was an awesome section! I read it and had such a good image of this crippled old man pushing another to the side and reaching out to grab his love and child. It surprised me though how easily Pearl did kiss him after their interaction in the woods.
Posted by: Meredith Harber at September 21, 2005 05:06 PM
I agree, Liz. I had an awesome visual imagery of Dimmesdale reaching for Pearl and Hester, while pushing Chillingsworth to the side. It was nice that he finally confessed, but I wonder if he had been a young, healthy man, would he have confessed in quite the same manner. I was actually a little surprised when Pearl accepted him so well, considering their relationship up to this point.
Posted by: Meredith Harber at September 21, 2005 05:12 PM
Yeah, I haven't given much thought to if he was a younger man. I don't suppose that it would have been so dramatic. But I'm debating on whether or not he still woulda died. Because him dying, to me, is God's way of forgiving him and letting him into heaven. I'm not really sure if that's right...lemme know what you think.
Posted by: Liz Ludovici at September 22, 2005 12:16 AM
First of all, sorry for the double comments. I didn't think it posted. It may have been God's way of forgiving Dimmesdale, but it still seems like he had an easy escape. Maybe that's just the vengeful human being I am!
Posted by: MeredithHarber at September 22, 2005 09:20 AM