What did Dimmesdale do in the middle of the night?

What did Dimmesdale do in the middle of the night?

Dimmesdale begins to torture himself physically: he scourges himself with a whip, he fasts, and he holds extended vigils, during which he stays awake throughout the night meditating upon his sin.

Where does Dimmesdale go in the middle of the night to relieve himself of some of his guilt?

Dimmesdale climbs the scaffold at night so that he can confess his sin and feel how Hester felt. The source of his chest pain is the scarlet “A” he bears.

Why did Dimmesdale leave his house in the middle of the night?

Because Dimmesdale is incapable of confessing that he was Hester’s lover and that he is Pearl’s father — the one act necessary to his salvation — he substitutes self-punishment. On one such night while he is seeking peace, Dimmesdale dresses carefully in his clerical clothes and leaves the house.

Where does Dimmesdale go during his nightly vigil and with whom does he meet?

The Minister’s Vigil. Dimmesdale goes to the scaffold where Hester Prynne had lived through her public ordeal. He stands there just waiting for someone to throw rotten fruit, but no one shows up. (Maybe next time try going during the day, dude.)

Where does Dimmesdale go as a form of penance?

Secret sin (Dimmesdale) tortures you and will ruin you both mentally and physically. The burnt scarlet letter on his chest is a form of Penance and in previous chapter; Dimmesdale does punish himself for having committed this sin in a hidden manner.

Why are Dimmesdale and Hester buried side by side?

Years later, Hester Prynne actually goes back to the community that’s shunned her for so long. However, the fact that Hester and Dimmesdale can be buried near each other suggests that the community has, in many ways, forgiven them for their adultery. Even after death, the legend of their love continues.

What did Dimmesdale do in the forest?

In the forest, Hester and Dimmesdale are finally able to escape both the public eye and Chillingworth. They join hands and sit in a secluded spot near a brook. Hester tells Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband.

Where do Dimmesdale and Hester plans go?

Europe
Hester’s plan is for Dimmesdale to go deeper into the wilderness and live in natural freedom away from the eyes of Puritan society or to return to Europe, where he will be free of “these iron men and their opinions.” But Dimmesdale feels he has not the strength to do either.

Where does Dimmesdale stand at the Minister’s vigil?

Summary and Analysis Chapter 12 – The Minister’s Vigil. After leaving the house, Dimmesdale walks to the scaffold where, seven years earlier, Hester Prynne stood, wearing her sign of shame and holding Pearl.

Why does Dimmesdale scream in the Scarlet Letter?

Dimmesdale mounts the scaffold. The pain in his breast causes him to scream aloud, and he worries that everyone in the town will wake up and come to look at him. Fortunately for Dimmesdale, the few townspeople who heard the cry took it for a witch’s voice.

What kind of light does Dimmesdale see in the sky?

As he speaks, a strange light in the sky illuminates the scaffold and its surroundings. Looking up, Dimmesdale seems to see in the sky a dull red light in the shape of an immense letter A.

When does Hawthorne show Dimmesdale on the scaffold?

For more information on King James I, see Chapter 8 Analysis: Allusions. Hawthorne foreshadows Dimmesdale’s eventual demise by showing him on the scaffold. This act is a kind of rehearsal for the scene in Chapter 23 when Dimmesdale does reveal his scarlet letter to an unsuspecting crowd.