The Scarlet Letter: Dimmesdale

     I find Dimmesdale to be an interesting character.  He is a minister, yet he is unwilling to confess sin--something a minister teaches their congregation to do.  He both wants to and doesn't want to come forward as Pearl's father.  In chapter 12, he stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl during the night, but refuses to do so in the daylight for everyone to see.  He goes to meet Hester and Pearl as a way of asking for forgiveness yet is unwilling to come forward and ask for forgiveness from the whole town.  He seems like sort of a coward and a hypocrite to me.  Hester is brave and honest; he is the opposite.  I can't blame Pearl for washing off the kiss he gave her in chapter 19--if he truly loved her he would confess his sin and suffer with Pearl and Hester.  But his consequence for sin seem to be worse than Hester's, because although kept in secret, it is eating him up inside.  He is suffering physically because of his guilty conscience, while Hester can move forward and make some meaning of her life.  Dimmesdale's character proves the good that can come of confession, even if the punishment for sin isn't fair.