The relationship between Dimmesdale and Hester in The Scarlet Letter has been analyzed extensively at length by literary scholars. The two characters’ connection is handled through symbolism, which helps to portray the nature of their relationship. The imagery presented in The Scarlet Letter deals with fertility, innocence, and redemption. The symbols presented help to form the foundation for The Scarlet Letter’s characters and themes. The use of symbolism is used thoroughly in The Scarlet Letter, one such example being the imagery involving Hester and Dimmesdale.
The relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale is often seen as a closely bonded pair held together by their symbolic scarlet letter ‘A’. The characters are linked to this symbol, but are also separated by it at the same time. The letter ‘A’ places both figures into an overall overarching thematic framework within The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne The first way that the symbols of fertility play into the relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale occurs during Pearl’s baptismal ceremony which happens near the beginning of The Scarlet Letter.
This event takes place within The Scarlet Letter is presented as a rebirth of some kind for both Hester and Dimmesdale. The baptism is characterized as a fertility ritual by the imagery used to detail it. Just before this scene, The Scarlet Letter states that, “the forest pathways… were studded, here and there, with the gleaming circle of a silver mocassin. ” The use of these moccasins on the forest floor implies that fertility is present in the story through Pearl’s birth.
The appearance of these moccasins aligns with The Scarlet Letter’s theme of fertility because they are described after both Dimmesdale and Hester have given birth to their illegitimate children. The two characters’ troubled pasts are tied to the moccasins through The Scarlet Letter’s imagery. The two characters meet for the first time within The Scarlet Letter near “a small brook that trickled, with a quiet murmur, among the herbage of a wide wet swale,” The site where Dimmesdale and Hester’s conversation takes place is also an area that has been associated with fertility.
This symbolism can be found throughout The Scarlet Letter. The author uses this type of symbolism to associate both Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne to fertility. Hester Prynne The second way that symbols of fertility play into the relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale occurs after Dimmesdale makes his public confession about adultery during Chillingworth’s party. The confession of adultery is an example of The Scarlet Letter using symbolism to connect Hester and Dimmesdale.
The author uses this moment to link the two characters through their illicit acts of fornication. The use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter can be found throughout many instances, but nowhere else does it play as prominent a role as it does during Chillingworth’s party chapter. The night Dimmesdale makes his confession about adultery is one that also contains fertility symbols. The confession of adultery The confession takes place near “a line… where the firelight ceased to glimmer… nd only the starred twilight looked down into the open space” (Hawthorne 205).
This area described as having some kind of separation between the stars and the earth that allows for fertility. The place Dimmesdale confesses his adultery is tied to The Scarlet Letter theme of fertility through its symbolism. The area where he makes his confession shares the same symbolic meanings as Pearl’s baptismal ceremony, which also has deep ties to The Scarlet Letter’s theme of fertility.
The final way that symbols of fertility are used in The Scarlet Letter is during Hester’s discussion with Dimmesdale about who her secret lover is at the end of the novel. The author connects this moment to earlier instances within The Scarlet Letter by using imagery associated with fertility. By using these symbols, The Scarlet Letter creates connections between Hester and Dimmesdale by creating thematic parallels between Pearl’s baptismal ceremony, the confession of adultery at Chillingworth’s party, and Hester Prynne and Dimmesdale’s conversation about who Hester’s secret lover is.
The Scarlet Letter connects these three events by using imagery associated with fertility to demonstrate how Hester and Dimmesdale are connected to one another throughout the novel. The author uses The Scarlet Letter’s symbolism to create a connection between Hester and Dimmesdale while also creating a thematic motif that plays into The Scarlet Letter’s overarching theme of fertility. The author uses The Scarlet Letter’s symbolism in multiple ways to connect Hester and Dimmesdale throughout The Scarlet Letter.
The first this is achieved occurs during Pearl’s baptismal ceremony. The symbols of fertility are present during Pearl’s baptismal ceremony, which is one way The Scarlet Letter connects these two characters. The author uses The Scarlet Letter ‘s symbolism to connect Hester and Dimmesdale through their illicit acts of fornication after Hester makes her public confession about adultery during Chillingworth’s party.
The night Dimmesdale makes his confession about adultery at Chillingworth’s party has more symbolic ties to The Scarlet Letter theme of fertility that the night Pearl is baptized in The Scarlet Letter. The final way that The Scarlet Letter connects Hester and Dimmesdale by using imagery associated with fertility occurs when the two talk about who Hester’s secret lover is at the end of The Scarlet Letter. The use of The Scarlet Letter’s symbolism to connect Hester and Dimmesdale creates a thematic motif that plays into The Scarlet Letter overarching theme of fertility.
The two characters who encounter the most change through The Scarlet Letter are Hester and Dimmesdale. The way these two respond to their situations reflects on major themes of The Scarlet Letter, such as sin, guilt, redemption, and alienation from society. Hester undergoes a physical punishment for her adulterous affair with Dimmesdale. She must bear the town’s mark of shame; an embroidered scarlet letter A that is sewn onto her dress and cannot be removed (Hawthorne 12).
The A indicates that she is an adulterer and therefore must suffer public humiliation. The A also creates a subtle distinction between Hester and the rest of the community; only those capable of adultery would wear such a mark (Smith 80). The townspeople also shun Hester, but her position in the community changes over time. Initially she is an outcast, living alone on the outskirts of society (Hawthorne 13). The people ignore Hester and pretend that they do not see her; “it would be next to impossible to detect them conspiring together” (Hawthorne 12).
The townspeople are unable to directly look at Hester because it reminds them of their own sins. The scarlet letter makes them feel guilt for what they did, specifically for committing adultery. Eventually Hester’s status in society improves when Dimmesdale makes a public confession of his sin. After Dimmesdale reveals his secret he suffers an illness and can no longer function as a minister. The townspeople feel guilty about their negative treatment of Hester and turn to her for forgiveness (Hawthorne 166).
The scarlet letter continues to create a distinction between Hester and the rest of the community, but in this instance it shows that she is more religious than they are. The A allows Hester to unify herself with Dimmesdale through religion because both of them have repented for their sins. Hester undergoes physical degradation, similar to Dimmesdale, but he also experiences guilt regarding his sin. Dimmesdale’s internal conflict creates tension which symbolizes his sin throughout The Scarlet Letter. He initially denies his sin until he decides that he must reveal his secret (Hawthorne 87).