The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an epic tale of sin and inner conflict with morality. The novel is based in the 1600's in the puritan settlement of Boston. The story revolves around four main characters: Hester Prynne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth, and Hester's young daughter, Pearl. All four characters play a key role in developing and highlighting the novel's theme of inner conflict of morality. The story is of two lovers' sin together and its eventual destruction of them both. Dimmesdale and Hester are both living symbols of inner conflict although they each have their own separate ways of dealing with it.
             The young clergyman, Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, sticks out like a soar thumb when I think of the ways the characters in this novel deal with their inner-conflict. It is obvious throughout the story that Dimmesdale is a good man at heart and is truly sorry for his sin. It is his inability to bring himself to admit publicly his sin and accept his punishment that he experiences inner torment that eats away and agonizes his health. Despite his failing health, he is able to turn his experience and torment into inspired preaching. This makes him very popular as a clergyman.
             "While thus suffering under bodily disease, and gnawed and tortured by some black trouble of the soul, and given over to the machinations of his deadliest enemy, the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale had achieved a brilliant popularity in his sacred office." (Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, Chapter 11, Page 137)
             However, as the novel goes on, we find that the young clergyman has been abusing himself and engaging in other methods of self-punishment. We find that he fasts for days at a time and that he meditates for hours and hours. We also learn that he even beats himself with a whip.
             "His inward trouble drove him to practices more in accordance with the old, corrupted faith of Rome ...