In this chapter, Chillingworth starts to torture Dimmesdale. Chillingworth now knows that Dimmesdale is Pearl's father. Dimmesdale does not trust Chilingworth but he does not know why. He puts off these feeling of distrust. Dimmesdale preaches some of his best sermons during this time. Most of these sermons were on sin and he can sympathize with the weaknesses of others because of his own sin. Dimmesdale starts having visions. In one of these visions he sees himself, with Hester and Pearl, up on the scaffold.
-More than once, Mr. Dimmesdale had gone into the pulpit, with a purpose never to come down its steps, until he should have spoken words like the above. More than once, he had cleared his throat, and drawn in the long, deep, and tremulous breath, which, when sent forth again, would come burdened with the black secret of his soul. More than once—nay, more than a hundred times—he had actually spoken! Spoken! But how? He had told his hearers that he was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest, the worst of sinners, an abomination, a thing of unimaginable iniquity; and that the only wonder was, that they did not see his wretched body shrivelled up before their eyes, by the burning wrath of the Almighty!
-This passage is saying that Dimmesdale going to the pulpit to confess his sin. He is saying that he is the worst kind of sinner, and he is wondering how they did not see it in him.
-More than once, Mr. Dimmesdale had gone into the pulpit, with a purpose never to come down its steps, until he should have spoken words like the above. More than once, he had cleared his throat, and drawn in the long, deep, and tremulous breath, which, when sent forth again, would come burdened with the black secret of his soul. More than once—nay, more than a hundred times—he had actually spoken! Spoken! But how? He had told his hearers that he was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest, the worst of sinners, an abomination, a thing of unimaginable iniquity; and that the only wonder was, that they did not see his wretched body shrivelled up before their eyes, by the burning wrath of the Almighty!
-This passage is saying that Dimmesdale going to the pulpit to confess his sin. He is saying that he is the worst kind of sinner, and he is wondering how they did not see it in him.
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