HOW 'BOUT NO...
..., that will be the main focus of my analysis, and more importantly the symbolic meaning of his actions. Reverend Dimmesdale seen constantly holding his hand over his heart, is one of the most sybolic actions performed in The Scarlet Letter. Though this act was often thought to be the cause of illness, the author hints that the pain may really come from somewhere within Dimmesdale’s mind. The author also hints that the action taken by Dimmesdale is not that much of a conscience choice, it becomes completely involuntary. Dimmesdale, knowing that he had sinned, was naturally having a hard time dealing with his actions, let alone himself. He, as a reverend, felt that it was above him to have done such a thing, that he himself was no better than a common sinner. His attitude, combined with his actions, implies the following passage. “The hand is traditionally a symbolic representation of our actions, or what we choose to do or pursue. It functions as a symbol of power, whether good or evil. The hand is a corporal manifestation of the inner state of the human being and it expresses an attitude of mind. Further: ‘The hands are the essence of the individual. Hands communicate our attitudes and perform our deeds. They speak more eloquently than our words, since actions of the hands come from the heart. Through hands come blessing and healing, or bloodshed and deeds of wickedness….if dirty hands represtent past mistakes, clean hands represent contrition and a fresh start.’ Gaskill, pg43-44 With this evidence, and our knowledge from the book, it is safe to say that Dimmesdale had done something that would cause him to anguish, as the author portrays him so doing. The reverend is using his hand to remind him of what he had done. Thus truly manifesting his inner-being, and state-of-mind. As we go through The Scarlet Letter, it becomes redundant to look upon the symbolic use of the heart and try to take it literally. The heart is spoken of as a vessel of affection. There is atleast one example of when you the reader would look upon Dimmesdale, groaning under the wieght of sin, and say in your minds, ‘is his heart not heavy?’. The symbolism of the Heart in this book is foundation of the story, for without the Heart there can be no conviction. Whether you are convicting yourself, or strengthening your resolve to do something you know not acceptable, but the right thing to do anyway. Dimmesdale loved Hester with all of his heart. And his heart was constantly battling the vindiction of the Puritan society. “Although today we associate thought and memory with the brain, biblically these functions were, at least metaphorically, believed to take place in the heart-the seat of knowledge; the recipient of revelation, inspiration, and omniscience; and the location of the true inner man or woman. Symbolically speaking, revelations are given not just to the mind but to the heart, and the conversion they provoke is also in the heart. It follows that if something id known by the Spirit or some truth has been revealed, it is to the heart that such knowledge comes and thereafter resides” Gaskill, pg.47. In the text we read as Chillingworth states of Dimmesdale: “But see, now, how passion takes hold upon this man, and hurrieth him out of himself! As with one passion, so with another! He hath done a wild thing ere now, this pious Master Dimmesdale, in the hot passion of his heart!” From this we know that Dimmesdale is suffering for what now seems to have been a rash decicion. But Dimmesdale must relive that decicion, constantly debating, ...