Arthur Dimmesdale and John Proctors Guilt and Sin Essay -- The Crucib

Arthur Dimmesdale and John Proctors Guilt and SinGuilt is something that weighs intemperately on the human soulfulness. Itincorporates itself in our dreams, our thoughts, and our actions.Everywhere we turn, it stares us blankly in the face. While it isunbearable to suffer, guilt is an emotion that reaffirms our humanity.Repentance of a special(a) guilt, being spiritual, physical or both,is evidence that we are beyond the baseness of our animal tendencies.This fact has not gone unnoticed to the many gigantic figures ofliterature. They have explored the sentiments of guilt and repentanceby exploiting the conscience of flawed divisions. In The ScarletLetter, Nathaniel Hawthorne presented to the world Reverend ArthurDimmesdale, a man suffering in a past sin. Likewise, in his play TheCrucible, the great modern playwright, Arthur Miller, penned thecharacter of John Proctor to allegorize the dangers of moralpassivity. Their guilt and repentance were the elemental causes of theirundoin g.Dimmesdale and Proctor were both martyrs to their sin. Morespecifically, they were both martyrs to the sin of adultery. organism aman of the cloth, this was especially painful for Dimmesdale. Howcould a ruined soul like his effect toward the redemption of othersouls? (Hawthorne 182). As he avowed so mournfully to Hester, hispartner in sin, Canst thou deem it, Hester, a consolation, that Imust stand up in my pulpit and meet so many eyes turned up to my as ifthe light of promised land were beaming from itand then look inward, anddiscern the black reality of what they worship?(Hawthorne 182). Hewas so consumed by his hypocrisy that he turned to self-masochism as ameans of escape. In stark contrast to Hesters external ... ...e(Miller 22). All hewanted to do was get on with his body politic and continue to live happilywith his wife. It was only when the witch hunt promptly affected himdid he realize the gravity of his mistake. This was completelydifferent to Dimmesdales seven lon g years of suffering. However,unlike Dimmesdale, when faced with the decision to confess and live orstand by his convictions and die, Proctors chicane for life interfered.He had so much to live for including his children and his livelihood.Only his laurels steered him back to the importance of his cause.Arthur Dimmesdale and John Proctor were both martyrs for personal and social guilt. They paid earthly penances and the final penance ofdeath. Their undoing was a requirement for a society at the brink.Without their sacrifice, the society they lived in would havecollapsed infra its own weight.