Critical Analysis of the Scarlet Letter:
             The Difference Between Hester and Dimmesdale
             The ways in which Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale acknowledged, accepted, and repented their sins were completely opposite each other. Hester, although she did not have much of a choice, openly accepted her punishment for committing adultery. She struggled with her conscience as she raised her child, Pearl, and dealt with being the town outcast. Dimmesdale lived a cowardly life. He hid behind the respect his title afforded him with the townspeople (Loring, 254). He would not be seen in public with Hester and Pearl, but he would meet with them in the forest (Hawthorne, 151) and at night on the scaffold (Hawthorne, 111). It was only on his deathbed that he confessed to being Pearl's father (Hawthorne, 180).If he had not been near death, the town may never have known the truth.
             The same sentiments are echoed in George Bailey Loring's "Hester versus Dimmesdale". Arthur Dimmesdale, it seemed, was in a sort of denial. He knew what he and Hester did, but he did not confess it. By having not admitted the sin out loud, he may have thought that it was not real. He created his own hell, which he alone knew, and which Chillingworth got quite close to finding. But his repentance was not for his sin; he hardly thought of that. His was inspired by his "...sorrow for sin, and which grows out of fear of consequences..." (Loring, 254). With each day, Dimmesdale grew paler and weaker. Had he sought redemption for his sin, he may have grown stronger and wiser. His cowardice and selfishness "...added tenfold disgrace and ignominy to his original crime..." (Loring, 253).
             Hester, on the contrary, bore her shame publicly. On her chest she wore a bright, scarlet red "A" embroidered by her hand, and outlined in gold thread (Hawthorne, 44). She did not rely on anyone. She did not expect to be offered any h...