Is Dimmesdale or Chillingworth a hero?
Chillingworth is only a human put into a terrible position which he reacts to. In fact, it is not beyond reach to say that under his circumstances, Chillingworth was actually the hero, the protagonist; and Hester and Dimmesdale are the true villains.
What does Arthur Dimmesdale symbolize?
He is unable to reveal his sin. At worst, Dimmesdale is a symbol of hypocrisy and self-centered intellectualism; he knows what is right but has not the courage to make himself do the public act.
What kind of character is Arthur Dimmesdale?
Character Analysis Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale, the personification of “human frailty and sorrow,” is young, pale, and physically delicate. He has large, melancholy eyes and a tremulous mouth, suggesting great sensitivity. An ordained Puritan minister, he is well educated, and he has a philosophical turn of mind.
Why does Arthur Dimmesdale put his hand over his heart?
What is Dimmesdale’s idosyncratic gesture? 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.
Who is the hero in The Scarlet Letter?
Hester Prynne
Hester Prynne Hester is the book’s protagonist and the wearer of the scarlet letter that gives the book its title.
Is there a true hero in The Scarlet Letter?
Out of all the characters in the story, Hester is the only one who proves to be heroic, mainly because of her patience and courage. Eventually, Hester’s goodness is vindicated. The townspeople associate the scarlet letter “A” on her chest with the word “angel” rather than “adulteress” due to Hester’s kindness.
Why is Dimmesdale the most guilty?
“All the dread of public exposure, that had so long been the anguish of his life, had returned upon him.” This line reveals the fear that leads to Dimmesdale being unable to take responsibility for his actions, thus leading to his overwhelming guilt.
Is Arthur Dimmesdale a protagonist or antagonist?
The protagonists of the novel are Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, both bearers of a Scarlet Letter of Adultery, one public and one private. Hester Prynne, the bearer of the scarlet letter in public, is the central character of the book.
What is Dimmesdale’s tragic flaw?
Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale has two basic tragic flaws: his feebleness of character and his lack of moral strength. His feebleness of character is evident, first and foremost, in that he did not resist the temptation of becoming involved with Hester Prynne. This is also indicative of his lack of moral character.
How is Dimmesdale a hero?
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterful romance The Scarlet Letter, Arthur Dimmesdale alone stands out as a tragic hero, who struggles for freedom over his guilt for committing lechery. Throughout the novel, Dimmesdale’s stages leading to his public atonement aligns with Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero.
What was on Arthur Dimmesdale’s chest?
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. This act of self-mutilation is essentially his own way to “share” the pain of Hester’s humiliation.
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.