would they discern there, with the red eastern light upon him? Whom, but the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, half frozen to death, overwhelmed with shame, and standing where Hester Prynne had stood! (141)
             Reverend Dimmesdale felt a great pressure from his community to fulfill his duty as their minister, and his relationship with Hester threatened to disturb their peace and harmony. Therefore, Hester kept his secret and the people were spared the heavy disappointment. 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. Although Reverend Parris did not personally commit the sin that led to the death of many innocent people, he did help to further the extent to which the witchcraft hysteria advanced. Because of his role in society, and the fact that the people already felt uneasy about him, P
             ...