StacyEstatico

I think that is an interesting point to make about Dimmesdale making Hester proud. Its like Hester wanted him to confess all along to justify what she did. I think Hester deserved at least Dimmesdale's one time confession because she suffered publicly her whole life.

does dimmesdale necessarily show the mark on his chest? there is some confusion in the novel with this part. no one actually has proof that it was seen.

and...even when dimmesdale stood on the scaffold, telling the town of his sin, they still did not believe him! how naive are these people?! they thought that by him standing on that scaffold that he was symbolizing that even holy men are sinners, like hester prynne.

puritans were so dense. haha.

tell me what you think.

Stacy,

I admire your sympathy for Dimmesdale. Let me be a Dimmesdale, and not be jealous of your interpretation, but to admire it lol. I honestly can't give Dimmesdale any credit or sympathy, and I am glad that he died. I really am. It shows the symbolism that his sin was the torture, and his confession slightly set him free (Death). In the introduction, Hawthorne shows that this was a community of sinners. They weren't meant to be liked or have sympathy for. I respect that you still do, but Hawthorne makes his point evident in the introduction.

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PS I didn't mean to come off as brash, I was really just stating my claim.

yes, about the mark on his chest. i think it was more of a symbolic thing. Dimmesdale probably feels like there is a giant A on his chest and he probably feels like it is so obvious to everyone else that there is one too. Since he finds it so obvious everyone else must see it. Like when he says that he saw his features in Pearl's face and that it was so obvious to him and everyone in Salem could see it too.

Ashley- Hester did suffer publically for several years although she did become seen as a "saint" in the town eventually. Yet Dimmesdale's confession is not exactly the same as branding a scarlet A for years. Hester is still hurt by his remarks, even after the confession. He got to die and didn't have to deal with the repercussions of what he said. Hester, however, had to basically leave town to avoid more trouble over the confession. Sure, she might have wanted it, but she also had to pay the price.