The biggest
sin thatcommits, aside from the adultery and fornication he already has committed with , is the
fact that he does not own up to what he does and continues to lie to his flock. He does this
while secretly inflicting private punishment upon himself. He does this by perpetuating the
image of the "young divine" that the villagers have bestowed upon him.
Not only does he do this to his flock, but he also does this to Hester. He never
supports her, and the only times that Hester and Dimmesdale get to speak and make
"plans" for the future are at the times when she orchestrates the meetings. To add to
the shocking nature of his behavior, he is neither loving of nor entirely accepting of his own
daughter, , even as he is not entirely loving, forgiving or accepting of himself as we learn at
the end of the novel when his chest and back are bared.
The reason why you
can say that Dimmesdale commits the greatest sin (if "greater sin" means as between
his and Hester's...
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