Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Archetype: The Wound That Never Heals - Coggle Diagram
Archetype: The Wound That Never Heals
Hester vs. Dimmesdale
Dimmesdale
"By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast! By sending yonder dark and terrible old man, to keep the torture always at red-heat! By bringing me hither, to die this death of triumphant ignominy before the people!" (Ch. 23 Line 317-319)
Dimmesdale did not have his secret exposed like Hester but still had to live with it. Although his situation was different in the fact that he had to keep his mistake a secret from everyone it was very similar to Hesters. Dimmesdale did not handle it the same as Hester because he let the mistake eat him up inside and tear him down emotionally and physically. This passage portrays his final speech before he dies. He did not embrace the pain and let it kill him.
Hester
“Let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart.” (Ch.2 Line 59)
Although Hester was shamed, frowned upon, and had everyone know she was the girl who committed adultery; she ended up embracing it and using it as a way to restart her life. She did not let the fact everyone knew what she did stop her from living her life and taking care of her daughter. She embraced the pain and suffering.
Characteristics of the Archetype
5.) He does not welcome his suffering, and does not embrace pain voluntarily
"Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!" (Ch. 17 Line 239)
Dimmesdale is upset that he cannot open up about his suffering, but Hester gets to wear it proudly on her chest. This makes him build up his anger, pain, and suffering until it eventually all comes out. Dimmesdale forces to keep his pain inside because of the expectations other people have for him in the community.
2.) He is a gifted man of medicine
"I shall see him tremble. I shall feel myself shudder, suddenly and unawares. Sooner or later, he must needs be mine!" (Ch. 4 Line 87-88)
Chillingworth was supposed to be helping Dimmesdale get better but in reality he was making him get worse. Chillingsworth was doing this because he was upset that Hester had cheated on him while he was gone for years. His probably had guilt about leaving for that long and chose to take it out on Dimmesdale by poisoning him instead of actually helping him. He was gifted at medicine because he made it to where Dimmesdale actually died and suffered a lot.
Dimmesdale
How he responds to the situation
Dimmesdale would cope with the suffering he endured by punishing himself. He felt like the only way to atone for his actions was to force himself to hurt and suffer even more. He would achieve this by whipping, starving, and putting the letter A on his chest. He was too weak and was too afraid to face the consequences of his actions.
6.) His suffering is endless and hopeless
In Mr. Dimmesdale's secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge. (Ch.11 Line 174)
How he feels about the situation
Dimmesdale was almost jealous of Hester because everyone already knew her secret. This was shown multiple times in the text. Dimmesdale did not like the fact that even though they had done the same thing Hester got to move on with her life and be okay with what had happened. Dimmesdale was most scared of how his public reputation would be tarnished if people found out. He knew if anyone found out about what he had done his position of minister would be gone.
“All the dread of public exposure, that had so long been the anguish of his life, had returned upon him.” (Ch.12 Line 188-189)
"Therefore, above all things else, he loathed his miserable self!" (Ch. 11 Line 174)
"Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!" (Ch. 17 Line 239)
Hester
8.) The end of the healer's suffering endows it with meaning, and involves saving the life of someone else (Prometheus) and achieving his own freedom of agony
"Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!" (Ch. 17 Line 239)
Hester did in a sense save Dimmesdale's life by allowing him to tell the people about his secret. She was so open about hers it encouraged him to finally tell the people that he had been lying to them. Although he died right after telling them his death ended his suffering and his self harm. Although one of the reasons he confessed was because of how bad his suffering was Hester definitely had an impact in why he confessed.
Hesters Strength
"She had returned, therefore, and resumed – of her own free will… resumed the symbol." (Ch. 24 Line 329)
Hester was so strong and endured her pain for the rest of her life. The pain will not go away for her but it since she accepts it, it will be a lot easier to live with. She wears her sins on her chest literally and figuratively.