What Did Dimmesdale Do

The most important aspect of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale’s character is his role within the Puritan community. As a Puritan minister, he is supposed to be the highest example of the Puritan faith. Since he is a genuine believer, his affair with Hester Prynne weighs on him heavily.

What crime did Dimmesdale commit?

The greatest sinner in The Scarlet Letter is the reverend Arthur Dimmesdale who committed adultery with Hester Prynne. In the book The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is forced to wear a red letter in the shape of an “A” because she committed the crime of adultery.

What does Dimmesdale do to himself?

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. … He decides to hold a vigil on the scaffold where, years before, Hester suffered for her sin.