Arthur Dimmesdale's mournful life was the definition of dreadful,
             gloomy, and doleful. Throughout the book, his life drew a lot of attention to the
             mysterious aspects. Specifically, the physical acts he made drew attention.
             As stated in chapter 8, "the young minister at once came forward, pale,
             and holding his hand over his heart, as was his custom whenever his
             peculiarly nervous temperament was thrown into agitation." The sin that
             consumed him and his heart drove him to act in a demented manner
             internally, but calmly externally. His physical appearance seemed very
             interesting; the way it changes gives it a very symbolic nature because it
             symbolizes how he has changed on the inside as well. The personality he
             portrays plays a huge part in the book also (for the same reasons as
             physical appearance). He makes himself seem like a very calm person in
             front of others. Dimmesdale, minister of the New England town, had a
             crucially important philosophical and social standing because everyone
             When "The Scarlet Letter" first begins, Hawthorne describes Dimmesdale
             as a young clergyman with large, brown, melancholy eyes. He also possesses a
             very large mouth, and a pale face. After the minister sinned, he started
             to become very ill. "Whose health had severely suffered, of late, by his
             too unreserved self-sacrifice to the labors and duties of the pastoral
             relation." Anytime he stood close to someone who could possibly know his
             sin, he would place his hand over his heart; he would do so because his
             heart hurt. The pain and guilt of the sin he committed with Hester was
             overtaking his appearance. Dimmesdale feels absolutely sickened by his
             physical attributes. The fact that Chillingworth wants to "help" him get
             better just makes it him feel worst about it all.
             The physical appearance of Arthur Dimmesdale plays a huge role in
             symbolism and end results. His strength throughout all of this is
             ...