Conflict Analysis: Arthur Dimmesdale

1. Conflict Analysis: Arthur Dimmesdale Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale lived with the fact that a young woman, Hester Prynne, whom he had committed adultery with, was taking all of the blame for her crime. She had not revealed the fact that it was he who was her child’s father. The guilt of this ate away at Arthur over the years. He suffered substantially mentally and his physical health would soon diminish as well. Hester wanted to reveal that he was the father, but also did not want to because of the fear of other people’s reaction. The guilt he felt on the inside made his sermons very powerful as he let out all of his pain in them. This caused him to become very liked by people. Page 28 states “While thus suffering under bodily disease, and gnawed and tortured by some black trouble of the soul, and given over to machinations of the deadliest enemy, the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale had achieved a brilliant popularity in his office.” Dimmesdale finally did reveal himself as the father of Pearl and as an adulterer. After giving yet another powerful sermon, Dimmesdale ripped off his shirt, which then revealed a scarlet letter “A” just as Hester wears. Dimmesdale then collapses and dies. The father of Hester’s child, Pearl, was finally revealed.