How does Dimmesdale die in the scarlet letter?
From Shmoop Lit/The Scarlet Letter The Reverend Dimmesdale represents a weak man who sins but fails to accept public condemnation for his sin. His subsequent hypocrisy, however, eats away at him until his health fails. Recognizing that death is imminent, he chooses to purify his soul at the last minute by confessing his sin publicly and revealing the scarlet letter A that has appeared on his chest over his heart. The symbol on his skin suggests that, though we may hide our sins as best we can, they will always surface and be revealed.
