-~- DIALECTICAL JOURNAL #20 -~-

"The aged members of his flock, beholding Mr. Dimmesdale's frame so feeble, while they were themselves so rugged in their infirmity, believed that he would go heavenward before them, and enjoined it upon their children, that their old bones should be buried close to their young pastor's holy grave. And, all this time, perchance, when poor Mr. Dimmesdale was thinking of his grave, he questioned with himself whether the grass would ever grow on it, because an accursed thing must there be buried!" ((Chapter 11/PAGE 125))


The personal guilt is just spewing from Arthur's mind at every possible instance. He can't come to terms with his sin and it is killing him exponentially.


The fact that Arthur can't cope with his inner struggle shows the power of the society/Puritan religion. The Puritans will hold every sin and blow it out of proportion and Arthur knows this all to well and dwells on it intensely. However, the length of this private guilt is obscene and countered by Hester's guilt slowly decreasing. Arthur is so fearful of being criticized and condemned by the people who shun every sinner, yet he holds such a high position of power within the very system that he fears. Arthur's weak character and dependence on Hester to convey his feelings and make decisions for him is again reinforced with this example.


As for the grave, the connection Chillingworth made between the grave of the made up priest and the lack of nature surrounding his grave obviously struck something within Arthur's mind. He has remembered it and thought about his own grave and the shame that would come with having a black, drab weed pile aside his resting place. The secret must come out so that the plants can grow as the society keeps nature out as much as it can, and the grave symbolizes this due to the society being the thing that Arthur fears, which in turn negates the beauty and truth of nature from showing itself; remaining hidden.