The character of Arthur Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter seemed to be a very strong man in some ways. He held the burden of his sin for seven years before he was finally able to admit what he did. He suffered through a tremendous amount of guilt and anxiety. But in many aspects Dimmesdale was not a very honorable man. He allowed Hester to be punished and treated badly. He also never made any contact with Pearl, his daughter. Overall Dimmesdale was able to endure a great deal, but his actions throughout the book showed he was not very noble.
             In the book Dimmesdale had a lot to deal with. He could not entirely be blamed for refusing to confess his sin until it was too late. The whole town looked upon him for help and salvation. He had to maintain his reputation. The townspeople would have been incredulous if they found out that their savior was a sinner. Dimmesdale was also plagued with an immense amount of grief and guilt throughout the entire story. Physically he became much paler and emaciated. He changed into a very sickly man. But Dimmesdale was suffering in many other ways. The author hinted that he was going insane from everything that was built up inside of him. He tried to punish himself for his sins and made several failed attempts at confessing. For seven years Dimmesdale had to survive with this guilt. In some ways life was easier for Hester because she had been spurned by the people, but could now move on. She had served her penalty and had paid her retribution. Dimmesdale, however, could not repent something that he had not yet confessed. He needed to keep this a secret not only for himself but also for the people of the town. He was the reverend; it could not be revealed that he had committed such a sin. Therefore he was stuck living with his actions until he was willing to admit he was the father of Pearl, at the expense of the town's faith.
             While Dimmesdale had to keep his sin a secret for many honorab...