“ ‘The saint on earth! Alas, if he discern such sinfulness in his own white soul, what horrid spectacle would he behold in thine or mine!’ “ (131).
Dimmesdale was Boston’s angel sent from heaven and the mere thought of him being a sinner frightened everyone. Dimmesdale was basically everyone’s primary example for goodness. Dimmesdale reminds me of Elizabeth Proctor for two reasons. One, because Elizabeth was always thought to be completely truthful and honest. Dimmesdale is viewed by society as pure and no one would ever imagine Dimmesdale lying. Two, because Elizabeth’s single lie was about Proctor’s adulterous act with Abigail. Technically Dimmesdale is not lying, but he is also not telling the truth.
“ ‘Then, and there, before the judgment-seat, thy mother, and thou, and I must stand together. But the daylight of this world shall not see our meeting!’ “ (139).
What Dimmesdale is trying to say in the quote above is that by he will eventually confess his sin to everyone by the time he dies. Pearl seemed to have liked the feeling she got when Dimmesdale stood up with both Pearl and her mother. The fact that Pearl asked Dimmesdale to stand with them the next day was very difficult for Dimmesdale. He saw and witnessed the happiness experienced by Pearl, and this gave Dimmesdale a glimpse of what life would be like if he ever confessed, but his sincere feelings about not confessing overcame this.
Is Dimmesdale foreshadowing his death when talking to Pearl about standing with them?
Is Hester ever going to get tempted to confess Dimmesdale’s sin for him?
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