Interna tional Jo urna l o f Applied Research 2025 ; 1 1(2 ): 299 -3 00

ISSN Print: 2394-7500

ISSN Online: 2394-5869
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A comparative analysis of Dimmesdale’s internal
IJAR 2025; 11(2): 299-300
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conflict and Hester Prynne’s external punishment in
Received: 21-12-2024 the scarlet letter
Accepted: 27-01-2025

Sameer Ahmad Thoker

MA English, University of
Sameer Ahmad Thoker and Muneeza Rashid
Kashmir, Heff Shirmal
Shopian, Jammu and Abstract
Kashmir, India “The Scarlet Letter” was published in 1850 and was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, who was a
novelist and short story writer. The novel explores the love story of Hester and Dimmesdale. They
Muneeza Rashid committed a sin, but society is so corrupted that they only pointed fingers at Hester and she gets public
BA, Women's College
punishment. Dimmesdale takes refuge in his position as a priest. This paper will highlight how nature
Pulwama, Jammu and
acts and punishes Dimmesdale in the form of internal conflict in comparison to Hester’s public
Kashmir, India
punishment. Nature also exposes the corrupt nature of society, where rank may save a person from the
public's scrutiny even after committing a sin.

Keywords: Internal conflict, punishment, sin, nature and corruption

Introduction
The Scarlet Letter" is a narrative that centers around the love story of Hester and
Dimmesdale. They both commit a sin that results in the birth of Pearl. The story reflects the
corrupted Puritan society where punishment is imposed for sin, but it predominantly affects
the impoverished. The upper class or individuals of rank are often perceived as morally
upright, while the poor become the victims. The novel reflects two types of punishment. One
is visible, as seen in the case of Hester, who is compelled to wear the badge of shame (Public
punishment). The other is invisible, yet more tormenting, as exemplified by Dimmesdale.
Although his sin remains unseen, it continuously gnaws at him internally (Internal Conflict).
Even though the sin is the same. However, both receive different punishments. Hester feels
guilty about the action she took, while Dimmesdale experiences shame. Michael Lewis
asserts that guilt pertains to "the action," whereas shame relates to "the self." When the novel
begins, Hester emerges from prison as a bold individual and ascends the scaffold where she
confesses her sin. She never feels shame; rather, she feels guilty about her actions. On the
other hand, Dimmesdale, although present at the scaffold, does not confess but instead feels
shame. Although Dimmesdale is physically free, he is internally imprisoned. This can be
observed from the following passage: "Happy are you, Hester, that you wear the scarlet letter
openly on your bosom! Mine burns in secret!"(Hawthorne -217). He often places his hand
over his heart, which signifies the pain he endures.
In the first scaffold scene, when Hester is summoned, she faces a visible punishment as she
advances with her daughter. The sign of sin upon which thousands of eyes are piercing the
heart of Hester. Hester is compelled to wear the badge as a symbol of shame. She stated in
the story, "This badge taught me- it daily teaches me- it is teaching me this moment."
(Hawthorne -126). Her life became unbearable after donning this badge. She became
marginalized, and people severed all connections with her. Even though the crowd says;
“they should have put on the brand of hot iron on Hester's forehead. (Hawthorne -61).
Schoolboys taunted her relentlessly. They were granted a half-day holiday to follow and
insult her. The passage below describes the effect of the badge: "that scarlet letter, so
Corresponding Author:
Sameer Ahmad Thoker fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It has the effect of a spell, taking
MA English, University of her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself."
Kashmir, Heff Shirmal (Hawthorne-64).
Shopian, Jammu and The same is true for Dimmesdale. He is not marginalized externally but internally. He is in a
Kashmir, India
crowd of people yet feels alone.
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This is more tortuous than external isolation. The crowd of could easily evade consequences for their actions. Nature
people perceives those arrows that will pierce his heart into intervenes, imposing a punishment on the criminal that is
pieces upon knowing the reality. He feels, "All the dread of more tortuous than public retribution. Being free from
public exposure that had so long anguished his life had corruption and biases, nature compels Dimmesdale to
returned upon him. (Hawthorne-174). confess his sins before the gathered crowd on Election Day.
According to Swathy and Suganya, “it reveals the fear that During his confession, he realizes he is a hypocrite and
leads to Dimmesdale being unable to take responsibility for ultimately dies. This illustrates how nature administers
his actions as he continues to preach morality and goodness. punishment to a criminal without partiality.
This hidden guilt becomes a tormenting force that
deteriorates his physical and mental health” (465). Conclusion
Dimmesdale Creates an imaginary scaffold scene in which Hawthorne's novel reflects the unbiased punishment from
he attempts to confess and find relief; "The moment that he nature. He conveys a message for all societies that are
did so, there came what seemed a tumultuous rush of new corrupted by any system. Hester receives punishment from
life, distinct from his own [.] as if the mother and the child the public, but nature assists her in becoming strong. On the
were imparting their vital warmth to his half-torpid other hand, the public has no suspicion of Dimmesdale;
system.”(Hawthorne-173). From these lines, it is evident however, nature intervenes and reveals his true identity,
how burdened he feels for not being able to confess. When which in turn exposes the true nature of society.
he creates this imaginary scaffold, he feels as if a one-
million-ton stone has been lifted from his heart. References
This all happened because society had established all these 1. Hawthorne N. The Scarlet Letter. Salem Edition.
rules against sin. Nature never perceives the sins of Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin and
individuals; nature never creates rules for sinners. This is Company; c1874.
evident when Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the forest; 2. Lewis M. Shame - The Exposed Self. New Free Press;
they feel relaxed and happy. "By another impulse, she took c1995.
off the formal cap that confined her hair [.] A crimson flush 3. Pattison S. Shame, Theory, Therapy, Theology.
was glowing on her cheek, which had been long so pale.” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; c2000.
(Hawthorne -230). 4. Swathy P, Suganya J. A psychological exploration of
According to Sundström,"During this scene, Hester guilt and social condemnation in The Scarlet Letter.
undergoes a reincarnation into her past self, once again International Journal of Novel Research and
glowing with energy [.]. As soon as the tortured preacher Development. 2023 Oct;8:464-467.
draws a breath from his surroundings, his character 5. Sun Y. The conflicts in Arther Dimmesdale. Advances
changes.”(13). "A glow of strange enjoyment threw its in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research.
flickering brightness over the troubles of his breast [.]. His 2019;368:568-570.
spirit rose, as it were, with a bound and attained a nearer 6. Sundström N. Open guilt and secret shame: The
prospect of the sky, than throughout all the misery which difference between guilt and shame as depicted in The
had kept him grovelling on the earth”.(Hawthorne -228- Scarlet Letter. D Extended Essay. English Department
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Hester's public punishment makes her strong enough to cope
with the situation. She turned all negative points into
positive ones. The following passage provides a good
description: "All the world had frowned upon her, -for seven
long years it had frowned upon this lonely woman- Heaven,
likewise, had frowned upon her, and she had not died”.
(Hawthorne -220). Not only this, but the letter, which was a
sign of shame, she also turned it into her teacher. "The
scarlet letter was her passport into the regions where other
women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These
had been her teachers,- stern and wild one, - and they had
made her strong, but had taught her much that was amiss”.
(Hawthorne -226-227).
She became so strong that she did not leave the city;
otherwise, the entire city aimed to make her life so terrible
that she would die. According to Johnston, "she is not
ashamed, she has not submitted, she freely owns who she is
and what she has done, and in fact, she quietly defies the
shame that the magistrates have attempted to use to kill her
spirit.”(31).
On the other hand, Dimmesdale's internal conflict resembles
a tumor that grows internally and ultimately leads to his
downfall. According to Pattison, "Shame is felt as an inner
torment, a sickness of the soul [.]. Shame is a wound felt
from inside, dividing us both from ourselves and from one
another.”(1). The rank that served as a shield for his sins
existed in a society so corrupt that an individual of high rank
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