In chapters nine and ten, Hawthorne explains that “Mr. Dimmesdale has evidently began to fail” (109) by maintaining to be the perfect example of holiness. For years now “his form grew emaciated” (109) trying to protect his reputation, by keeping his secret from the townspeople. As much as he tries to hide his sorrows, the people discern his actions and emotions through the way he interacts in the community. Dimmesdale is now “considered by his more fervent admirers as a little less than a heaven-oriented apostle” (109).
He expresses his grief at losing close friends, as well as, resentment for an overly vengeful God, who would punish men not only their crimes, but also the crimes of their fathers. One of Francesco?s peers, Giovanni Boccaccio observed the human behavior in response to The Plague. He concluded that their behavior fell into three categories: Isolation- No one can get me sick if I break contact with everyone. Denial- If I indulge myself, enjoy life, and surround myself with merriment, how could I possibly die? Moderation- If I refrain from overindulgence and gluttony, and walk a righteous path, then I will be spared from this evil.
He confesses his sin of adultery, all with the intention to save the lives of those he knew to be innocent at the expense of his innocence before the court of Salem. At the end of the play however, John himself is accused of witchcraft, and is faced with another moral decision. He must either must lie, and confess to a sin that he did not commit (that of witchcraft) and have this lie posted on the church door, or die for the sin of witchcraft that he did not commit. John wrestles with his conscience over this choice, and in the end, chooses to die telling the truth - that he is an honest man who did not commit witchcraft and told the truth no matter the consequences. He says, “Because it is my name!
Dimmesdale is the town’s minister and is also the man Hester committed adultery with. It is ironic in the fact that he preaches to the town about confessing their sins, yet he has a sin that he has not confessed. Hawthorne uses satire to poke fun at the Puritans’ view of sin. The man who is supposed to be free of sin, has actually sinned the worst. Before Dimmesdale kills himself, he admits his sin to the whole town.
In King Claudius’ soliloquy (III, iii, Line 54-64), he is kneeling praying to God for forgiveness for his murder. This is the first time that Claudius confesses that he has killed his brother. Claudius is not sorry for what he has aware that what he is asking of God is very foolish. He done to King Hamlet and is not willing to give up the crown, the power, and his wife that he attained. Claudius is acknowledges that this will not happen because of the possessions that he has gained.
The author Nathaniel Hawthorne explores this possibility in his literary works. In his short story “Young Goodman Brown,” a man forever gives up his faith after his sinful dealings with the Devil. He hides his wrongdoing and beings to see evil and deviltry in all humans; he becomes an actor, losing his genuine, honest self and becoming untrusting towards all. The results of his sin are paralleled in Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter; the Puritan minister Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale commits the sin of adultery, yet continues to live his life in a position of revered holiness. Dimmesdale loses himself in this falsehood, forgetting who he truly is, and assumes two distinct identities: one while in the public eye and another while in privacy.
He tries to accomplish his goal by hiding his sin but is distressed because of his pursuit of what he believes to- be happiness. Towards the end of the play his struggles eventually end in his downfall. His courage to stand strong in his beliefs leads him to death at the gallows. His personal struggle with Elizabeth is resolved as he makes his decision to refuse to confess to witchcraft. Elizabeth sees his inner goodness shine when he refuses to lie about being involved in witchcraft, and she realizes how unfair she has been.
“There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!” (pg 30) Parris tried to defend himself with such passionate and heartfelt comments but Proctor would have none of it. To him Parris was not in his society. Also, his relationship with Abigail Williams was a strained one, plagued with affair, scandal, and betrayal. He did love her, but soon after seeing what she truly was he resented his connection to her and, like what his old true nature told him, he confessed, causing a resent to appear within the town that never gave him his old trust
For Dimmesdale, even though he does not reveal his sin to other people, he suffers great agony which eventually leads him to death by the end of the story; and he dutifully delivers meaningful sermons, given his personal struggle with sin. Chillingworth, on the contrary, neither expresses regret nor remorse, and never tries to atone for his actions. Instead of seeking to expiate his sin, he keeps strategizing revenge against the young minister. To achieve his design, Chillingworth moves into Dimmesdale’s house as a physician, and while in residence there, continuously harasses the psychologically weak minister like a “leech.” The physician ultimately becomes obsessed with his revenge. Hawthorne even emphasizes this obsession by describing Chillingworth’s transformation into an embodiment of evil.
But God does believe in forgiveness of your sins and his truth was his forgiveness. The story made a point to show us John had changed, from committing adultery to a good Christian man. He died for the lord, his wife, his children, his name, and his innocent friends. After committing his sin he could not commit another one by giving a false confession. He died at the end of the play with his glory, pride, name, and his loved ones.