Hester must confess his sins and repent in order to make things right with Dimmesdale.
Hester Prynne reveals to Reverend Dimmesdale that Roger Chillingworth is her husband. She discloses their secret marriage and the fact that Chillingworth is seeking revenge on Dimmesdale for his adultery with Hester.
Pearl is the daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale and therefore resembles their sin of adultry. Hester dresses pearl in a scarlet colored dress to show this and make her look more like the letter "A" which also resembles their sin.
Hester has already faced public scrutiny and judgment for her actions, giving her a stronger sense of self and resilience. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, has been hiding his sin and living with guilt, making it harder for him to make decisions with clarity.
The narrator highlights the difference in guilty conscience between Hester and Dimmesdale in their decision on whether to stay or leave town. Hester is publicly shamed and accepts her punishment, while Dimmesdale is tormented by his hidden sin and struggles to make a choice, ultimately impacting their ability to leave town.
Hester plans to escape her suffering by leaving the town and starting a new life with Pearl, while Dimmesdale initially plans to confess his sin publicly as a way to ease his guilt and suffering. However, he ultimately decides to escape by secretly leaving with Hester and Pearl to start a new life away from the judgment of society.
Hester and Dimmesdale decide to go to London to escape their past and start fresh in a new environment where they are not known and can make a new life away from their sins and the judgment of their community. Additionally, they may believe that London offers more opportunities for them to find redemption and live freely.
Chillingworth discovers Dimmesdale's secret sin when he sees a mark in the shape of an "A" on the sleeping Dimmesdale's chest. This confirms his suspicions that Dimmesdale is the father of Hester Prynne's daughter, Pearl.
When Hester meets Roger Chillingworth on the peninsula, she tells him that she is going to make Reverend Dimmesdale aware of Chillingworth's true identity (Roger Prynne - Hester's former husband.)Hester says to Roger Chillingworth "I must reveal the secret. He [Arthur Dimmesdale] must discern thy true character, to discuss this matter with him, told him to be there for that discussion.
Chillingworth discovers a mark on Dimmesdale's chest, leading him to believe that Dimmesdale is hiding a secret sin related to the mark. This discovery fuels Chillingworth's suspicion that Dimmesdale is the father of Hester Prynne's child.
Dimmesdale refuses to promise Pearl that he will publicly acknowledge her as his daughter and herself as her father. He is hesitant to make this promise because it would require him to publicly confess his sin of adultery, which he is not yet ready to do.
Yes, Reverend Dimmesdale's actions in "The Scarlet Letter" are believably motivated. His internal struggle with guilt, societal expectations, and his love for Hester Prynne drive him to conceal his sin and suffer in silence. His complex character and conflicting emotions make his actions realistic and compelling.
The subplot of "The Scarlet Letter" involves the mysterious character known as Roger Chillingworth, who seeks revenge on the protagonist, Hester Prynne's lover, Arthur Dimmesdale. Chillingworth's relentless pursuit of Dimmesdale adds a layer of tension and complexity to the main storyline of Hester's public shaming and redemption.