Receiving Helpdesk

how did reverend dimmesdale die

by Susie Upton Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

At the end of the novel, Dimmesdale makes a speech and exposes his chest to the community gathered around the scaffold, then dies.

Full Answer

What is the cause of Dimmesdale's death?

Poisonous plants and symptoms are arguable reasons for Dimmesdale’s death by Dr. Kahn. However, Dr. Kahn’s theory that Dimmesdale is poisoned by atropine is false, and Dimmesdale’s death is caused by a prolonged depression brought on by guilt.

How did Reverend Dimmesdale die in the Crucible?

Dr. Kahn suggests that Reverend Dimmesdale’s death is because Chillingworth has been poisoning him with Atropine in small amounts for a very long time. “Dimmesdale’s symptoms developed over a prolonged period, indicating that they are probably the result of chronic poisoning” (Kahn).

What sin does Reverend Dimmesdale commit in the Scarlet Letter?

In the Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Reverend Dimmesdale commits adultery with Hester Prynne, and so she bears a child. Dimmesdale does not admit his sin to the people in the community. Keeping the sin a secret for as long as he does creates guilt and suffering which manifests in him until his death.

How does Dimmesdale react when he sees Hester on the scaffold?

Dimmesdale is nervous in front of the townspeople having to make the decision on punishment for Hester, while Hester is standing on the scaffold by herself, and he becomes pale from the position he is in.

What is the cause of Dimmesdale's death?

Depression and heartache were the cause of Dimmesdale's death. Dr. Kahn had many arguable reasons for the death of Dimmesdale, but Dimmesdale may not have been poisoned by atropine. Dimmesdale could have been poisoned over a prolonged period of time, but it is more likely that he died out of torture and guilt.

Who killed Arthur Dimmesdale?

physician Roger ChillingworthJust which one came to this conclusion first is a bit uncertain. But both say physician Roger Chillingworth used poison to murder the Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, the preacher who fathered a child by adulteress Hester Prynne. Chillingworth was Prynne's husband.

What kills Dimmesdale?

''I have no doubt that the Reverend Dimmesdale was surreptitiously poisoned by doses of atropine which Dr. Chillingworth extracted from plants mentioned in the book,'' said Dr.

How did Dimmesdale and Chillingworth die?

But both say physician Roger Chillingworth used poison to murder the Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale the preacher who fathered a child by adulteress Hester Prynne. Chillingworth was Prynne's husband.

How did Dimmesdale get the A on his chest?

Apparently, those who witnessed the minister's death cannot agree upon what exactly it was that they saw. Most say they saw on his chest a scarlet letter exactly like Hester's. To their minds, it resulted from Chillingworth's poisonous magic, from the minister's self-torture, or from his inner remorse.

What happens to Pearl after Dimmesdale dies?

Soon after Dimmesdale dies, Roger Chillingworth also passes away. He leaves all of his estate to Pearl, who immediately becomes the wealthiest heiress in the New World. Hester and Pearl then disappear for several years.

Who dies in the scarlet letter?

In The Scarlet Letter, three main characters die: Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth, and Hester Prynne.

Is Dimmesdale poisoned?

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's book The Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale's guilt appears to be the cause of his death, but his symptoms point towards Atropine and Scopolamine poisoning. In The Scarlet Letter, all the symptoms Dimmesdale experiences provide evidence that he is poisoned with Atropine and Scopolamine.

What does the end of the scarlet letter mean?

In the end, Chillingworth is morally degraded by his monomaniacal pursuit of revenge. Dimmesdale is broken by his own sense of guilt, and he publicly confesses his adultery before dying in Hester's arms. Only Hester can face the future bravely, as she prepares to begin a new life with her daughter, Pearl, in Europe.

How did Dimmesdale die scarlet letter?

Hester and her daughter Pearl are in the crowd of people and after Dimmesdale confesses he was Hester's lover and Pearl's father, he falls to the ground and dies in Hester's arms.

Did Dimmesdale die in Hester's arms?

Dimmesdale is broken by his own sense of guilt and he publicly confesses his adultery before dying in Hester's arms. Only Hester can face the future bravely as she prepares to begin a new life with her daughter Pearl in Europe.

Why does Chillingworth die?

Chillingworth's Legacy One such man known for the 'Devil's work,' Roger Chillingworth, becomes weak and drained after Dimmesdale's death. Now deprived of someone to vent his hatred on, Chillingworth dies shortly after Dimmesdale and leaves a large portion of his estate to Hester Prynne's daughter, Pearl.

Why did Reverend Dimmesdale die?

Dr. Kahn suggests that Reverend Dimmesdale’s death is because Chillingworth has been poisoning him with Atropine in small amounts for a very long time. “Dimmesdale’s symptoms developed over a prolonged period, indicating that they are probably the result of chronic poisoning” (Kahn).

What is the cause of Dimmesdale's death?

In conclusion, there is evidence to support the death of Dimmesdale being caused by a prolonged period of depression caused by guilt. Fairweather, Helen.

What did Dimmesdale show?

Kahn suggests that Dimmesdale showed many symptoms of atropine poisoning, but the symptoms which he showed could have been signs of depression, stress, heartbreak, disease, or guilt. “even this, his own red stigma, is no more than the type of what has seared his inmost heart” (Hawthorne 228).

What happened in the Scarlet Letter?

The Scarlet Letter: Mysterious Death of Dimmesdale. One could say that Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is poisoned, or that he merely died of guilty conscience. In the Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Reverend Dimmesdale commits adultery with Hester Prynne, and so she bears a child. Dimmesdale does not admit his sin to the people in the community.

What is the drug that kills Dimmesdale?

Atropine is a drug that comes from a plant called Deadly Nightshade, or Belladonna (Fair-weather). Poisonous plants and symptoms are arguable reasons for Dimmesdale’s death by Dr. Kahn. However, Dr. Kahn’s theory that Dimmesdale is poisoned by atropine is false, and Dimmesdale’s death is caused by a prolonged depression brought on by guilt.

What does Hawthorne say about Chillingworth?

Hawthorne does mention the poisonous plants, and also relates the plants to Chillingworth. Hawthorne is not trying to point out that Chillingworth uses these deadly plants and herbs to poison Dimmesdale, but it is symbolic of evil in him because it is saying that Chillingworth is so evil that poisonous plants will grow out of his burial site.

What did Hester show when he pleaded with Pearl?

As Hester was begging him to let her keep Pearl, he showed these signs of pity and heartache. “the young minister at once came forward, pale, and holding his hand over his heart, as was his custom whenever his peculiar nervous temperament was thrown into agitation” (Hawthorne 103).

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9