Keeping the Faith
In the times of the Puritans, ministers were seen as unfaltering men of God, but in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and Arthur Miller's The Crucible, we are introduced to two ministers who are anything but perfect. Reverend Dimmesdale of The Scarlet Letter and Reverend Parris of The Crucible are both victimized by the constricting Puritan Ethics of their time. Although each reverend's sin is different, they both are insistent in the unvarying faith of their purpose and both characters are plagued by the torment of introspection. Although today ministers are not the focal point of our society, people in high positions of power are still expected to act and live their lives according to the communities' standards. Both Reverend Dimmesdale and Reverend Parris attempted to hide damaging information to save their ministry because they believed leading their people was their main purpose in life, but Dimmesdale had the love and support of his community while Parris was seen as selfish and unfit for his position. For any normal person during the time, adultery was a horrendous crime, but for a minister it would be a much deeper shame. Reverend Dimmesdale's congregation idolized him; he was seen as a bit more than human, a man
While Reverend Dimmesdale kept quiet to save his congregation from a downfall, Reverend Parris' secret led his community into a whirlwind of suspicion and bereavement. So naturally, his involvement in a scandal would have shaken the community to its core. Therefore, Hester kept his secret and the people were spared the heavy disappointment. In his heart he knew that many of the good people who hung were not guilty and he let the killings continue until he could no longer stand himself. Keeping all of his feelings and thoughts locked inside caused Dimmesdale to become unbalanced and secluded. He knew, in his soul, that what he had been doing was wrong in God's eyes. Not wanting to cause great disturbance in the small community, Dimmesdale kept his identity as Hester's lover a secret from the people, thinking that since he was so admired as the minister he could not let such a shame befall him and ruin his congregation. And after much introspection he did apologize to the country and his wife for his sins. Slowly but surely, this self-torment killed him from the inside out. His crazed introspection climactically resulted in his death, a bittersweet end to a despondent life of self-persecution. As was routine in the puritan way of life, the minister put himself through constant introspection. And I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry's at sake, my ministry and perhaps your cousin's life. Unfortunately, it is a common occurrence between married couples. What can a ruined soul, like mine, effect towards their purification? And as for the people's reverence, would that it were turned to scorn and hatred! Canst thou deem it, Hester, a consolation, that I must stand up in my pulpit, and meet the eyes turned upward to my face, as if the light of heaven were beaming from it!- must see my flock hungry for the truth, and listening to my words as if a tongue of Pentecost were speaking!- and then look inward, and discern the black reality of what they idolize? I have laughed, in bitterness and agony of heart, at the contrast between what I seem and what I am. Whatever abomination you have done, give me all of it now, for I dare not be taken unaware when I go before them down there.
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