Sabrina Willey
09/05/08
PD 4

Chapter 23

Lets just start off by saying Nathaniel Hawthorne is amazing when it comes to metaphors.

He is like a metaphor maniac, but looking at the structure in which he forces these words into is

needless to say a mess. The author is quite wise though, he uses metaphors to get the reader to

imagine whats going on; to get the reader to acknowledge the full extent of the situation by using

examples anyone would commonly know and depict from. Another method of diction in which

the author uses is imagery, he uses things such as: words of flame, rich fragrance of his thought,

and inspiration ever breathed (pg 203).



The author also uses very short and blunt sentences to bring everything together. To lighten

up the long before sought out sentences of metaphors, similies, and alusions. The author writes

as if he wants the reader to remember anything and everything he exagerates emmensly on

any given subject and category. In the story so far it starts out with reverend Dimmesdale giving

his normal speech, even with his illness at its peak he continues to give he speech. After its all

said and done everyone leaves believeing that to of been his best speech ever.



The author uses Mr. Dimmesdale as the focal point in this chapter. He is the main speaker

the doer of all good deeds, and yet irony is set upon because Arthur Dimmesdale in reality is

the greatest sinner of all. Leaving the puritan society to been seen as a hypocrite, in the readers

eyes. In the chapter, like i said before, Mr. Dimmesdale has just delivered the best speech ever

even though he is a sickly now decrepate man. I'm believed to think that the author has set this

up as if this is the finale, the big end of Arthur Dimmesdale. Which of course the reader finds out

later in the chatpter that he croaks on the platform right next to the bearer of the scarlet letter

after confessing his ungodly sins.



The author sets a glorified tone in the beginning speaking of the uplifted crowd and the

mass of people all out to listen to the sunday sermon. Shortly after the speech is given the glorified

tone is disrupted by the Reverends abrupt actions where he joins Hester Prynne and her daughter

pearl on the platform of adultery and display. Needless to say the words chosen are harsh and

loud for such a change in the stories atmosphere. Close to the ending it is all meshed together once

the Reverend , Arthur Dimmesdale, speaks of the truth which would have completely set back

his whole reason of being if he had spoken of this before or it had gotten out to the public.



At the end of the chapter Revered Arthur Dimmesdale croaks on the platform next

to Hester Prynne , an adulterer. Mr. Dimmesdale in the end of his final speech, his final last words

he stands up loud and proud without support as if to show the crowd that this is real, this is reality.

I believe to the way that Mr. Dimmesdales health had progressed to such a deathly state by the time

of his confession was used as if a torture it was like his sin was making him sick and he wouldn't get

any better unless he confessed. Finally when it was all over god relieved him of his pain clearing his

conscience just before his end.



Even in the end the author continues to use metaphors and imagery to add onto the dying

passion of which is left in Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. In the end after eveything is said and

done the town and the people within it still remain to see typically that they are righteous. Nothing

could possibly be worse than living in a town with hypocrites and criminals. Though Hester Prynne

is to move away and live no longer within the town of which has cursed her for following her heart.