her husband who had been gone for seven years. He was the only other person besides herself and Dimmesdale that knew what really happened. Chillingworth, under a false identity had been working as a doctor for the Reverend. When she spoke with him he said, "For, Hester, his spirit lacked the strength that could have borne up, as thine has, beneath a burden like thy scarlet letter." He meant that Dimmesdale had no outlet for his sin like Hester had in her scarlet letter. This mark of sin gave her strength.
             Dimmesdale, on the other hand, kept all his feelings locked up, and was experiencing inner turmoil throughout the entire novel. " He longed to speak out, from his own pulpit, at the full height of his voice and tell people what he was." If he "longed" to do this so much, than why didn't he do it right away? If Dimmesdale were not a coward, he would have taken responsibility for his sin. What was the worst that could have happened? He would have lost his job, and maybe had to have worn a letter also. Dimmesdale used his faith, and his position, as an excuse for keeping his
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