Towards the end of "The Scarlet Letter", the minister, Dimmesdale finally confesses his sin to the public. This makes Pearl happy and she finally acknowledges Dimmesdale as her father. Unfortunately, Dimmesdale seems to be relieved from his burden and loses his will to live. He says his final words with Hester and dies instantaneously. This scene in the book made me wonder whether a person can simply choose to die just by losing his will to live. Judging by Dimmesdale's previous actions he was in decent conditions, he was young, and well fed. The way in which the minister dies can vary in perspective. Maybe he learned a yoga move that could make him so zen that he can just relax to the point 'till nothing on his body functions anymore; or maybe God really did come down and take him away. In my opinion, the most likely way Dimmesdale died was through cardiac arrest. Throughout the story, he puts his hand above his heart as if it's hurting or bothering him. Hinting that he could potentially have a heart problem. On the Scaffold when he confesses his sin, it is probable that he had gotten too emotional and thus triggered his heart failure.
Ben, I too think this is very interesting. When I was little I always wondered if you could just totally choose to die on command but no one would actually wanna try. I think Dimesdale was just weak and tired from holding in guilt. With all of that poison in him, death must have been a blessing.
ReplyDeleteHow ironic - you suspect his physical heart failed just as his symbolic heart finally succeeded in releasing its secret. I sense much symbolism (or biologically caused coincidence).
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