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4. AN ANALYSIS OF NEGATIVE SIDE OF PURITANISM
4.1 Hypocrisy As The Negative Side of Puritanism
Another figure who plays important role in this drama of hypocrisy is Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Among puritan society he is known as a minister,
clergyman as well as a reputable scholar. His close study in Biblical text and his profession as a clergyman make him a very respected and prestigious man amidst
his society.
. . . . . . a young clergyman who had come from one of the great English universities, bringing all
the learning of the age into our wild forest land. His eloquence and religious fervor had already
given the earnest of high eminence in his profession.
Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 72
Because of his understanding if the bible supplemented with his godly guidance and pastoral cares to his congregation, Rev. Dimmesdale appears to be a holy man
in the eyes of puritan society and he wins public affection. This image that creates an assumption that he is not likely to do wrong nor to commit any sin. Perhaps
this situation has made it possible to him and to other magistrates to punish Hester less severe compared to sanctions given to wrongdoers long before Hester’s time.
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25 However, public opinion which regards him as having divine characters put him
into a dillema because himself, beyond their knowledge, is involved in adultery case of Hester Prynne.
Rev. Dimmesdale’s life is always confronted with the dilemma and this poor clergyman is invisibly sorrounded with complicated situation. First
complication which strikes his heart and soul is shown when he is invited by his elderly Rev. John Wilson to handle Hester’s case and to persuade her to name her
sinner pertner, as can be seen in following quotation :
. . . . . . here Mr. Wilson laid his hand on the shoulder of pale young man beside him “I have
sought, I say, to persuade this godly youth that he should deal with you.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Good Master Dimmesdale,” said he, “the
responsibility of this woman’s soul lies greatly with you. It behooves you, therefore, to exhort her
to repentance and to confession as a proof and consequency thereof.”
Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 71-72
Above quotation also reveals his unreadiness in facing the reality. He is too scared to be responsible for what he has done with Hester. He would rather keep the
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26 secret inside him and let the fear take control of himself, which one of the
indications is reflected on his pale face. Contrary to his intellectual life and his dignity in Puritan society, Rev.
Dimmesdale shows himself a coward, unresponsible scholar. He does not have the courage to be responsible for his sinful deed. His cowardice defeats the
enthusiasm; He always encourages to his congregation whenever he gives sermon in his saintly church; His fear of the responsibility goes on preventing him for
making confession of his sin and makes him a perfect hyprocite. The fear than becomes an illness and is reflected on his countenance :
Not with standing his high native gifts and scholar like attainments, there was an air about this young
minister-an apprehensive, a starled, a half- frightened look . . . . .
Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 72
The honor that Rev. Dimmesdale receives from his society, especially his congregation obviously forces him to conceal his darkside. There is a continous
fight inside him. The fight between the will to confess and the fear of spoiling his reputation or public trust. He is aware that as a respectable clergyman he must not
commit any sin and if he still does one, he is to confess immediately. But as an intellect he also realises that if he makes a confession that means he will not be
able to continue his ministery nor keep up with his pastoral profession. What
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27 worries him most about making the confession is the prospect of his society’s life.
Their love and compassion have been heavily dedicated to him. Time and perseverance Rev. Dimmesdale spends for years in Biblical
study also compells him to retain his holliness and since public opinion on him is tendentiously high, he chooses to keep secret unrevealed. He has a vision that
public life is more important than his private life. So he keep the hypocrisy alive within himself by neglecting his moral feeling that he should share Hester’s
shame. However, Rev. Dimmesdale is fully aware about his being hyprocite as can be seen in the following quotation :
I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow- sinner and fellow-sufferer Be not silent from any
mistaken pity and tenderness of him; for, believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a
high place, and stand there beside thee on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to
hide a guilty heart through life. What can thy silence do for him, except it tempt him—
yea, compel him, as it were-to add hypocrisy to sin.
Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 73
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28 Rev. Dimmesdale realises his hypocrisy but he does not have the galantry to
confess. From above quotation we can also see that he asks Hester to confess first while himself, although he say he is ready to lose his reputation, he is afraid
giving the first confession. The veneration he obtains from the public has caused fights inside is very deep soul and it severely tortures him. He wishes he could
speak out from his pulpit at full height of his voice and tell the people who himself is. He longs to tell the public that the pastor they revere and trust is not
more than just a pollution and a liar. Many time he tries to utter those words of confession from the pulpit and promises to himself that he will not step down
before he can do it but he never makes it after all. The conflicts inside Rev. Dimmesdale’s soul then transform themselves
into an invisible insecurity and cristalized an illness. His illness could physically be seen from his frequent gesture of putting his hand upon his breast. The gesture
which he always makes whenever he appears before the public could be interpreted as his suffering from torments of the guilt or as his effort to hide his
sinful deed. Obviously, his feeling of guilt tails him wherever he goes and whatever he does and the poor clergyman who, basically possesses an over
softness, becomes very weak figure as he personally admits it :
“And I-how am I to live longer, breathing the same dale, shrinking within himself, and pressing
his hand nervously againts his heart-a gesture
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29 that had grown involuntary with him. “Think for
me, Hester Thou art strong. Resolve for me” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Be thou strong for me” answered he, “Advise me what to do.”
Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 187
His weakness in facing the reality and the consequence of his sinful deed which, at the beginning, is shown from his reluctance to interfere in Hester’s adultery
case, than becomes extensive after the arrival of Roger Chillingworth whose real identity is revealed by Hester to him. And as we can also see from above
quotation, Rev. Dimmesdale can only rely on Hester. Fearing Roger Chillingworth’s further torments and terrorizing vengeance, Rev. Dimmesdale and
Hester plan a runaway to Bristol by sea. One of the hidden positive impact found in Rev. Dimmesdal is that he
actually hates hypocrisy and loves the truth. That is why he hates himself for being unable to fight againts fright and hyprocisy. His feeling of love and care do
not fade from his heart, either. He shows that he loves Pearl and Hester and sides them when he and his fellow magistrates have a dispute over Pearl’s education.
He kisses Pearl when they take a walk in the forest and when he is about to release his last breath on the scaffold.
Following quotation presents Rev. Dimmesdale’s love and responsibility to his congregation and his duty as a clergyman :
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30 “it cannot be” answered the minister, listening
as if he were called upon the realize a dream. “I am powerless to go Wretched and sinful as I am,
I have had no other thought than to drag on my earthly existence in the sphere where providence
hath placed me. Lost as my own soul is, I would still do what I may for other human souls I dare
not quit my post, though an unfaithful sentinel, whose sure reward is death and dishonor, when
his dreary watch shall come to an end” Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 168
His faithfulness to his profession and his fear of God the defeat his feeling of guilt and nightmare of Roger Chillingworth’s vengeance. He still retains a positive
impact and his saintly quality finally regains a strength to confess his sinful deed on the scaffold, accompanied by his fellow sinner Hester, and the result of their
shame, Pearl, before his last breath.
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4.2 Arrogance As The Negative Side of Puritanism