Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is an intelligent man with a strong conscience. After cheating with Hester, he feels enormous guilt concerning his actions. The guilt he feels helps him to create powerful sermons on sin which he preaches to the townspeople. Dimmesdale's congregation sees him as a nearly perfect person, which drives Dimmesdale's feelings of guilt even further. Since he was not punished by society, as Hester was, he punishes himself instead. Dimmesdale uses whips, fasting, and holding vigils as forms of inflicting punishment on himself. After Dimmesdale publicly confesses his sin, Pearl kisses him and he dies.
"Come up hither, Hester, thou and little Pearl...Ye have both been here before, but I was not with you. Come up hither once again, and we will stand all three together!"
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