Dimmesdale and Frome

A detailed Summary of Dimmesdale and Frome

Arthur Dimmesdale of Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter and Ethan Frome, the main character of Wharton's classic Ethan Frome, though separated by over a century of time, find themselves in remarkably similar situations--a bleak existence, punctuated only be intermittent glimpses into a life that might have been. However, a difference in character leads each to ultimately confront their respective situation in opposing ways. Ironically, the one seeking a new, clean life is met by death and the one seeking a conclusive death receives, instead, a hellish life. Essentially, both Dimmesdale and Frome have weak and selfish characters, but Dimmesdale triumphs over Frome with a stronger heart and a more decisive mind in the end. Dimmesdale acquires these characteristics through a harsh penance and a lengthy repentance. Frome, however, hardly feels remorseful for his actions. Occasionally, a wisp of guilt enters into his mind, but it is driven out by defensive justifications of his actions.

Dimmesdale lives as a Puritan in 18th century Salem, Massachusetts while Frome exists in a stark austerity that symbolized the Puritan world in 20th century Starkfield, Massachusetts. An uneducated farmer, Ethan lives because he has to. There are obliga

Arthur Dimmesdale proved to be a stronger and more moral character than Ethan Frome. In both of their cases, death could be thought of as a reward. Dimmesdale experiences a relieving death, carrying him a way from the torture of his life. He most probably doesn't know that he is going to die. Dimmesdale approaches the Election Sermon with vigor, looking forward to the new life ahead of him, but makes a last minute change in his speech when Chillingsworth announces he is leaving Salem on the same ship on which Dimmesdale will be traveling. He dies after making a clean breast of things. It is a merciful death, sparing him from the townspeople's scornful reaction. In Ethan's case, he is forced to live when the only thing he desires is death. He is punished for his immorality and his indecisiveness. Although slightly different in morals and nature, both Arthur Dimmesdale and Ethan Frome get exactly what they deserve, even though what they receive is nothing like what they had wished for.

Remorse enters the minds of both Ethan and Dimmesdale, but for different reasons. Dimmesdale feels regretful that he tried to hide behind his holiness for so long, but Ethan feels sorry his plan didn't work.

Ethan, though, can only be sorry that he is still alive. Through the novel, he doesn't change much. He starts as a passive, melancholy young man, and when he meets Mattie, a spark of ambition from his youth reenters his body. However, it is quickly extinguished in the "smash up". He continues to live as a "bleak" and "unapproachable" man, "so stiffened and grizzled" (Wharton 1) that he appears to be many years older than he actually is. His life is possibly made worse by the change in Mattie Silver. He now has to live with two silent, yet querulous, women.

Dimmesdale, in accordance to his cowardly nature, never tells anyone of his secret until he realizes Chilingsworth's ultimate plan. Dimmesdale's plan to escape his past leaves him feeling elated and relieved. Energy, absent for so long, floods his body. When Chillingsworth proves to be a tenacious leech, gaining passage on the same ship on which Dimmesdale and Hester are planning to make their escape, Dimmesdale realizes the only way to cast off Chillingsworth is to confess. Dimmesdale feels guilty for pretending to be clean and free. He believes he is never to be forgiven by God -- he'll never be able to repent enough or feel sorry enough. He tells Hester when she hopes of a celestial meeting, "'The law we broke!-the sin here so awfully revealed!-let these alone be in thy thoughts. I fear! I fear! It maybe, that, when we forgot our God...it was thenceforth vain to hop that we could meet hereafter, in an everlasting and pure reunion.'" (Hawthorne 222) Therefore, Dimmesdale feels guilty and sorry not because he is about to confess or because the town will find out that he is an awful sinner, but because he made any effort to conceal his sin. In other words, Dimmesdale is regretful for the right reason.

Dimmesdale's eventual strength of character stems indirectly from the penances he perform

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Approximate Word count = 2082
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English