Dimmesdale, a clergyman and the father of Pearl with Hester, is a victim of a society that he knows will react harshly and punitively to his sin of adultery. Because he knows how judgmental Puritan society is—after all, he has seen how they have treated Hester—he is afraid to come forward and confess.

His buried sin and intense guilt therefore eat at him, destroying his health, although his guilt makes his sermons more inspiring and heartfelt. He is also left to the mercy of Chillingworth, who has guessed his secret, and, rather than expose him, torments him psychologically.

In many ways, Dimmesdale is worse off than Hester. Once her sin is exposed, she can move forward, atone, and win the respect of her community with her good works. Dimmesdale can only suffer in silence, which we know, from a psychological perspective, is the worst thing a person can do. His confession ultimately frees his soul, but it is too late for his weakened body, which dies.

Dimmesdale would have done better in a society that allowed people to make mistakes and was, especially, more forgiving of sexual transgressions.