Theme Of Duality In The Scarlet Letter

Paneloux pauses at the end of his sermon and just enough to give the impression he is done, and then launches into a final attack. This method or style of public speaking is quite common because the speaker draws attention to the conclusion. The first sermon is very dramatic and passionate and Camus does this intentionally to show the differences in the style of how the sermons are delivered. Paneloux had enormous amounts of energy in the first sermon that his hair became undone and his whole body was shaking of how much

He nearly fails in his quest to be a holy man, as the horrific deed that he committed nearly kills him through self-hate and illness of spirit. Eventually, however, he succeeds in conquering his fears of humiliation and stands triumphant, publicly repenting for his misdeeds and dying clean of soul. It is not known until well into The Scarlet Letter that Arthur Dimmesdale is Hester Prynne’s lover, but by this point, his conscience has already begun inflicting a woeful penalty on his spirit: "His form grew emaciated; his voice...had a certain melancholy prophecy of decay in it; he was often observed...to put his hand over his heart with...paleness, indicative of pain" (106). Although his reputation is flawless and his parishioners believe that through death, he is to be called to a higher plane of existence, Dimmesdale says with what is believed to be humility that his looming death is "because of his own unworthiness to perform his mission here on earth" (106). In retrospect, this marks the beginning of a critical and fatal duality of Dimmesdale’s character: the public believes he is a saint, while Dimmesdale knows himself the vilest sinner.

He cannot take the guilt which is gnawing at him inside and he is desperate to seek release. However, the shriek was only a figment of his imaginat... ... middle of paper ... .... The community sees Dimmesdale as a saint, while Hawthorne portrays him as a morally weak person who cannot confess his sin. Everyone sees Chillingworth as a betrayed husband who is betrayed by his wife. However, Hawthorne shows him to be an evil-minded person who is so consumed with vengeance and hatred that he cannot live when his victim dies.

Young Goodman Brown's Faith is not faith in Christ but faith in human beings, and losing it he is doomed to isolation forever." Those who persist in reading this story as a study of the effects of sin on Brown come roughly to this conclusion: "Goodman Brown became evil as a result of sin and thought he saw evil where none existed." Hawthorne's message is far more depressing and horrifying than this. The story is obviously an individual tragedy, and those who treat it as such are right, of course; but, far beyond the personal plane, it has universal implications. Young Goodman Brown, as a staunch Calvinist, is seen at the beginning of this allegory to be quite confident that he is going to heaven.

Dimmesdale has to be under the care of Chillingworth, who is currently pretending to be a doctor. While “caring” for Dimmesdale, Chillingworth is actually looking for vengeance because he knows that Dimmesdale had an affair with Hester. Hawthorne says, “His nerve seemed absolutely destroyed…. even while his intellectual faculties retained their pristine strength, or had perhaps acquired a morbid energy, which disease only could have given them,” (138). Dimmesdale comes to the point where thinking like an adult man is impossible.

In fact Hawthorne writes that, “This unhappy man had made the very principle of his life to consist in the pursuit and systematic exercise of revenge…” (177). During Arthur’s death scene Roger has, “…a blank, dull, countenance, out of which life seemed to have departed” (Hawthorne 175). He also explains that, “…old Roger Chillingworth’s deceas... ... middle of paper ... ...nt as each of the men feel in their own hearts. While Dimmesdale’s extreme depression most likely causes his fatal disease, Chillingworth’s vengeful attitude towards Arthur mutates him into a gargoyle whose sole purpose is to frighten away any joy that may exist in Dimmesdale’s life. On the other hand, Hester emerges victorious in the denouement of the tale, counseling countless other hurting women and successfully raising a daughter, Pearl.

While it is evident Dimmesdale has great rhetorical skills, Hester Prynne’s exquisite play on words is more subtle but just as important in the development of their personalities. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is artfully mastered in language, which is important as a Puritan Minister. Many people said [Dimmesdale’s preaching] affected them like the speech of an angel and the narrator practically gives him “the gift of tongues” (Milliman 1). He appeases the crowd by saying to Hester Prynne, “[see] the accountability under which I labor” which is meant to shame her for the adultery she has committed but also “secretly” confesses his equal participation in her sin (1). His audience, the people of Boston, perceives accountability as responsibility of what a minister must relay to his congregation and not as the truth of his wrong doing (1).

The Metamorphosis of Dimmesdale in Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are many characters that transform; one of them is Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale committed a great sin of the puritan society, he slept with another mans wife and Hester Prynne became pregnant. Hester was punished for her sin but Arthur Dimmesdale had not admitted to it, so he lives with this guilt and it is much worst for him because he is a puritan minister. Dimmesdale inflicts punishment upon himself because of his adulterated sin. Dimmesdale transforms throughout the novel always in the same place "The Scaffold."

They have not yet fallen under the judgment of God, but could at any given time be swallowed whole by the wrath of God. He continues to picture this situation by describing a man as “walk[ing] over the pit of hell on a rotten covering, and there are innumerable places in this covering so weak that they will not bear their weight, and these places are not seen” (197). The general reason that man is in this state is because his wickedness is great. Edwards believes that man in his natural state is completely sinful. He states that “There are those corrupt principles, in reigning power in them, and in full possession of them, that are seeds of hell fire” (196).

“Sinners in the hands of an angry God” was undeniably a fire and brimstone sermon, which is perhaps one of Edwards’ most famous sermons. With his direct tone he has control over his sermon and his audience, while the Pastor persuades them to accept that the wrath of God is upon them. At this time the Puritans had become complacent in their religion, which is relevant today for a number of people of all denominations. Edwards preached this sermon to awaken and persuade the unsaved to accept Christ as their Savior and to become a Christian. The Reverend is urging his listeners to have hope, relief, and acceptance with Jesus Christ.