" It was his custom, too, as it has been that of many other pious Puritans, to fast,—not, however, like them, in order to purify the body and render it the fitter medium of celestial illumination,—but rigorously, and until his knees trembled beneath him, as an act of penance.....He thus typified the constant introspection wherewith he tortured, but could not purify, himself." - Chapter 11
Dimmesdale is using extreme actions to physically torture his body seeking to purify himself. These actions of emotions over logic is a example of dark romanticism. He is so guilty of his sines that he is trying to relief his guilt by physically harming himself.
This quotation is also an example of outside reflecting the inside. "Knees trembled beneath him" reflects the guilt that Dimmesdale has in his mind because he is a sinner who committed adultery.
ReplyDeleteIt was his custom, too, as it has been that of many other pious Puritans, to fast, like them, in order to purify the body and render it the medium of celestial illumination, he typified the constant to purify, himself. Choosing to go with the traditional purify process instead of extreme actions that might go against God's well.
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