A man full of secrets Essay

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A Man Full of Secrets Imagine sinning and not telling anyone, also having to see that person's husband everyday although not being able to say anything to them. Throughout The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale have a secret relationship that no one knows about; along with their relationship they have a daughter named Pearl. The antagonist in this novel is Dimmesdale because he does not take responsibility for his daughter, Pearl, he watches Hester suffer alone knowing it is partially his fault, and he tells Hester they will not be together in Heaven because they have sinned. To begin with, Pearl has to grow up without a father because Dimmesdale would not confess that he is the one who had sinned with Hester. Pearl watches for seven years of her life wondering why he is not with them while they are suffering. Pearl asks Hester if Dimmesdale will tell the town about who he really is, she says, "Doth he love us?... Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?... And will he always keep his hand over his heart?" (191). Because Dimmesdale will not tell the town that he is Pearl's father and that he sinned with Hester, Pearl is questioning if he really does love them. Not only does Dimmesdale hide that he sins, he also breaks Hester's heart. Dimmesdale could confess so that Hester would not have to go through this alone; however, he does not. He goes on with his life, while Pearl and Hester are punished. Everyone looks at Dimmesdale as if he is the greatest man on earth, while looking at Hester as if she is the Devil. Hester always feels like someone who has sinned is watching her, she says, "But sometimes... she felt an eye-a human eye-upon the ignominious brand, that seemed to give relief, half of her agony were shared. The next instant, back it all rushed again, with still a deeper throb of pain; for in that brief interval, she had sinned anew. Had Hester sinned alone?" (79). Due to the fact that everyone is always watching her, she feels that she is not alone, and someone has experienced the same thing. In addition to Dimmesdale not being by Hester and Pearl's side while everyone tortured her, he was also not there when the torturing is all done. After Dimmesdale tells
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