Chapter 8-11

Sin is everywhere, it surrounds us and envelopes us. Yet we are fast to find the sin of others and not ourselves. Reverend Dimmesdale suffers both physically, emotionally, and spiritually because of his adulterous sin with Hester Prynne. He continually clutches his aching heart, his black heart. In LLP, it explains that a condition of the heart metaphors the character's personality or reveals a flaw in the character's nature. With Dimmesdale, his physical pain is a result of his concealed sin. Dimmesdale is letting his sin slowly engulf him, suffocating him from the air of freedom and life. Spiritually, Dimmesdale believes that God is letting him die because he is no longer worthy to tread the ground of Earth. He thinks that to confess his sin he will condemn his soul but continue to live, seeking forgiveness and feeling public humility every day, the same as Hester Prynne. Ironically, the spiritual Dimmesdale is conflicted with the scientific Mr. Chillingworth, who wishes to exploit the adulterous companion of his former wife, Hester Prynne. Chillingworth's herbs and medicine add to Dimmesdale's complications; he must decide whether to wander off the righteous path of strict religion to attempt to ease his suffering by the use of nature instead of God's forgiveness.

What causes Dimmesdale to keep this secrete hidden? He bears the scarlet letter in his chest as a decrepit heart and externally with a pale and slimming figure, yet he won't confess. Even the sound of Pearl must make Dimmesdale's entire body ache, let alone the sight of the young child throwing continuous shame upon the chest of her mother. Dimmesdale's denied confession is his own doing with a simple answer. He has had several chances to reveal himself but cannot find the courage in his cowardice guilt. He doesn't want to loose his position to uphold religious leadership, but in return he will loose his life.