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

Arthur Dimmesdale and John follows misdeed and SinGuilt is something that weighs heavily on the human soul. Itincorporates itself in our dreams, our cat valiumghts, and our actions. over we turn, it stares us blankly in the face. While it isunbearable to suffer, guilt is an feeling that reaffirms our humanity.Repentance of a particular guilt, being spiritual, physical or both,is march that we are beyond the baseness of our animal tendencies.This fact has not done for(p) unnoticed to the many great figures ofliterature. They have explored the sentiments of guilt and repentanceby exploiting the conscience of flawed characters. In The ScarletLetter, Nathaniel Hawthorne presented to the world Reverend ArthurDimmesdale, a man suffering in a past sin. Likewise, in his playact TheCrucible, the great modern playwright, Arthur Miller, penned thecharacter of John Proctor to allegorize the dangers of goodpassivity. Their guilt and repentance were the primary causes of theirundoing.Dimmes dale and Proctor were both martyrs to their sin. morespecifically, they were both martyrs to the sin of adultery. Being aman of the cloth, this was especially tremendous for Dimmesdale. Howcould a ruined soul like his effect toward the redemption of another(prenominal)souls? (Hawthorne 182). As he confessed 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 heaven were beaming from itand then look inward, and have intercourse the black reality of what they idolize?(Hawthorne 182). Hewas so consumed by his falsehood that he turned to self-masochism as ameans of escape. In au naturel(p) contrast to Hesters outward ... ...e(Miller 22). All hewanted to do was get on with his farming and continue to live happilywith his wife. It was only when the witch hunt directly affected himdid he realize the dryness of his mistake. This was completelydifferent to Dimme sdales seven long years of suffering. However, contrary Dimmesdale, when faced with the decision to confess and live orstand by his convictions and die, Proctors love for life interfered.He had so very much to live for including his children and his livelihood.Only his honor steered him back to the importance of his cause.Arthur Dimmesdale and John Proctor were both martyrs for personal andsocietal guilt. They paid earthly self-abasements and the final penance ofdeath. Their undoing was a necessity for a community at the brink.Without their sacrifice, the society they lived in would havecollapsed under its own weight.