How does dimmesdale change in the scarlet letter

Topics Character Roles Protagonist, Antagonist Tools of Characterization. But he exhorts her to reveal the name of the man who was her lover. He suggests that it might be better for that man, too, if he were revealed. Dimmesdale slowly begin to change. He holds his hand over his heart as if something there hurts him. He seem to be ailing. Dimmesdale and Dr. Their secrets, always under pressure of exposure, set them apart from their community, from each other, and from themselves.

Under the burden of psychic strain, each character is prone to forms of psychological deterioration. What is the psychology of this momentous transformation?

It is a question that comes naturally to the mind of a psychoanalyst to whom psychological change is not only of interest but a desideratum of psychoanalytic treatment. These data can be organized and sequenced [End Page ] into a Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide.

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Innocent little Pearl wonders why Dimmesdale is so afraid of public displays of affection, yet when they are alone, he takes notice of her and Hester. Talking to him, Pearl asks "Wilt thou stand here with Mother and me, tomorrow noontide?

In fact, the only way Hester and Pearl receive any kind of support from Dimmesdale is when Hester threatens to tell the truth about his sins. The fact that Dimmesdale is a hypocrite causes him to experience increased torment due to his guilt. However, he does care, and he inflicts torment on himself, including long periods of fasting. In addition to hours of staring at himself in the mirror, he could also be caught numerous times in his closet, whipping himself and burning the letter "A" on his chest.