First of all, I do not think that Dimmesdale is being a coward by hiding from the public that he is an adulterer. The public doesn't have the right to know all of his personal business and he does not have to go around telling people if he doesn't want to. Just because all of the fanatical Puritans in the novel are so dedicated to their religious beliefs (patching the 'A' on Hester's garment, mounting the scaffold to repay God for their sins, etc.) doesn't mean that Dimmesdale should have to take part if he does not want to. Clearly, these were just the means of punishment in that era, so what I am, in essence, saying is that I just do not agree with them. They are basically mixing church and state, combining crime punishment with religion, as adultery in that era was a crime.
Overall, the book is...okay. I find it fascinating how the Puritans were so dedicated to their religion, and from a historical fiction point of view, it isn't too bad. In fact, I even find myself getting mad at these characters, at times, for their crazy religious practices. I'm not condemning them for their faith in religion; it's really just that they impose them onto everyone that gets me. The language that Hawthorne uses really makes the book worse, in my opinion. It makes the book too much work to read and really takes away from the experience. As a person who doesn't love reading to begin with, and someone who would rather just read a book without "fluff", that just tells me exactly what's going on, The Scarlet Letter is really not an ideal read for me.
I guess it depends on your definition of cowardice. He certainly isn't proud of it, and because he would be judged so harshly by the Puritans he has a major disincentive to telling people about it.
ReplyDeleteBut Dimmesdale is somewhat obligated to uphold the Puritan ethic...he is a priest, is he not? And as for mixing church and state...they are not so much mixed as much as being one and the same. But remember that even today religious infulence can still be seen in government and law--we haven't purged the "Salemness" from our system just yet.
Your thoughts on the book are interesting...but why are you so surprised at how much of a religious tyranny the community is? But I am glad you are horrified at it--do you now know what I mean when I say I abhor religious tyranny ? Anyway, I hope you like the book's ending. I found it disappointing but I hope you think differently.
True...I guess my point would be better made if I were to claim it is not Hester's obligation, as opposed to making my point about Dimmesdale.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I also abhor religious tyranny.