Essay on Nathaniel Hawthornes Scarlet Letter - Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale is the Greatest Sinner :: Scarlet Letter essays

Arthur Dimmesdale is the great Sinner in The Scarlet Letter       It is strange how often different peoples sins seem so much worse in comparison to our own. In Nathaniel Hawthornes 1850 novel, The Scarlet Letter, Arthur Dimmesdale, an adulterate minister, seems to believe that Roger Chillingworth, the husband of his lover, is somewhat lacking in righteousness, when in fact, Arthur himself has deeply sinned. Through his adultery, his lying, and his lack of faith, Arthur Dimmesdale wrongs more than anyone else in the novel.     You shall non commit adultery (Exodus 2014). Hesters and Arthurs mutual sin is the source of their discontentment. They wrong themselves by breaking this sixth educational activity. As Hester disavows her duties to her husband, Arthur denies his duty to the people of the community who tonus up to him with astounding reverence. He has polluted his mortal, and says it best himself What can a...polluted soul effect towards the ir purification? Arthur, through his own tainted actions, leaves himself in a puzzle to either nullify the communitys notion that the Reverend is a pure and reverent individual or to lie to them. For most of the story, he chose the latter.     You shall not jut false witness... (Exodus 2016) Dimmesdale casts the eighth commandment aside as he continues to impress upon the Puritan community his moral and upright façade. Happy are you Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom Mine burn in secret Dimmesdale realizes his fault in hiding his sin, but his commit to repent is repeatedly overcome by his craving for public approval. His move falsehood led to his straying away from his relationship with God.     You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 203) In the words of Martin Luther, this first commandment can be best interpreted as We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things (Luthers *Small* Catechism). Dimmesdal e does all but represent this conception. Instead of placing his fate in the hands of The Almighty, Arthur allows himself to become subdued by Roger Chillingworth, who acts as a figurative enzyme to sin by taking Arthur verboten of his comfort zone and stressing his relationship with God.