1. No category

The Ruined Wall: Unconscious Motivation in The Scarlet Letter
Author(s): Frederick C. Crews
Reviewed work(s):
Source: The New England Quarterly, Vol. 38, No. 3 (Sep., 1965), pp. 312-330
Published by: The New England Quarterly, Inc.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/363794 .
Accessed: 29/01/2013 11:26
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .
http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp
.
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of
content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms
of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].
.
The New England Quarterly, Inc. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The
New England Quarterly.
http://www.jstor.org
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE RUINED WALL: UNCONSCIOUS
MOTIVATION IN THE SCARLET LETTER
FREDERICK
H
C. CREWS
ESTER Prynneand ArthurDimmesdale,in the protec-
tivegloom of the forestsurroundingBoston,have had
theirfatefulmeeting.While littlePearl,sentdiscreetly
out of
has
in
her
been
about
unrestrained
hearingrange,
romping
lovershave spokentheirheartsat last.Hesway,themartyred
ter has revealed the identityof Chillingworthand has succeeded in winningDimmesdale'sforgiveness
forher previous
Dimmesdale
has
torment.
his
secrecy.
seven-years'
explained
and
to
have
led
a
revival
Self-pity compassion
unexpectedly
ofdesire;"whatwe did," as Hesterboldlyremembers,
"had a
consecrationof its own," and ArthurDimmesdale cannot
denyit. In his stateofhelplesslonginghe allowshimselfto be
thatthepastcan be forgotten,
swayedbyHester'sinsistence
thatdeepin thewilderness
or acrosstheocean,accompanied
andsustained
freehimself
he
can
fromtherevengeHester,
by
fulgazeofRogerChillingworth.
Hester'sargument
is of coursea superficial
one; theultimatesourceof Dimmesdale's
anguishis not Chillingworth
buthisownremorse,
andthiscannotbe leftbehindin Boston.
The closingchapters
of The ScarletLetterdemonstrate
this
withcharacteristic
license,
clearlyenough,but Hawthorne,
tellsus at oncethatHesteris wrong."Andbe thesternand
sad truthspoken,"he says,"thatthebreachwhichguilthas
oncemadeintothehumansoulis never,in thismortalstate,
repaired.It maybe watchedand guarded;so thattheenemy
shallnotforcehiswayagainintothecitadel,andmighteven,
in hissubsequent
selectsomeotheravenue,in prefassaults,
erenceto thatwherehe had formerly
succeeded.Butthereis
stilltheruinedwall,and,nearit,thestealthy
treadofthefoe
thatwouldwinoveragainhisunforgotten
triumph."
istoostriking
Thismetaphor
tobe passedoverquickly.
Like
of theunconscious
Melville'sfamouscomparison
mindto a
312
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE RUINED WALL
313
subterranean
captivekingin ChapterXLI ofMobyDick,it
us
with
a theoretical
ofbehaviorwe
provides
understanding
otherwise
to
motivated.
Arthur
be
might
judge
poorly
is
likeAhab, "gnawedwithinandscorched
withDimmesdale,
of
some
incurable
out,withthe infixed,
unrelenting
fangs
at a crucialmoinserted
idea,"and Hawthorne's
metaphor,
mentin theplot,enablesus to see theinnermechanism
of
Dimmesdale's
torment.
Atfirst,
we do notseementitledto drawbroad
admittedly,
conclusions
fromthesefewsentences.
Indeed,
psychological
we mayevensaythatthemetaphor
conrevealsa fruitless
fusionofterms.
Does Hawthorne
meanto describethesoul's
the
of overtsin?Apparently
precautions
against repetition
since
the
foe"
is
identified
as guiltratherthan
not,
"stealthy
as theforbidden
meanswhat
urgetosin.Butifthemetaphor
itsays,howarewe toreduceit tocommonsense?It is plainly
to see "guilt"as theoriginalassailantof the
inappropriate
for
ofguiltariseonlyin reaction
citadel, feelings
againstcondemnedactsor thoughts.
The metaphor
wouldseemto be
in
different
terms
from
those
thatHawthorne
plausibleonly
selected.
To resolvethisconfusion
we mustfirstof all guesswhat
Hawthorne
intended
tosay.Thereis no reasonto doubtthat
he meanttocomment
on thepersistent
threat
ofguilt-feelings
the
of
soul
a
man
who
has
sinned.
once
This is made
against
certainnotonlybyhischoiceoftermsbutbythecontextof
themetaphor,
forhispurposeis toexplainwhyDimmesdale's
efforts
tofleefrom
guiltcannotsucceed.We areleft,then,with
theproblemoffinding
as
why"guilt"hasbeencharacterized
an invaderofthesoulanditspersistent
enemy.The commonsenseobjectionthatthisroleproperly
belongsto thetemptationor libidinalimpulseproves,when we reconstruct
Dimmesdale's
to be wellfounded.In hisactofadulhistory,
succumbed
toan urgewhich,becauseofhis
teryDimmesdale
asceticbeliefs,he had been unprepared
to findin himself.
of his conscience
and the
Nor,giventhehighdevelopment
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
314
THE NEW ENGLAND QUARTERLY
ofhis wishto be holy,could he have done otherwise
sincerity
than to have violentlyexpelled and denied the sensual imIt was at thispoint-the point at which
pulse,once gratified.
one elementofDimmesdale'snaturepasseda sentenceofexile
on another-thatthe true psychologicaldamage was done.
The originalfoeofhis tranquillity
was guilt,but guiltforhis
thoughtlesssurrenderto passion. In this light we see that
Hawthorne'smetaphorhas condensedtwo ideas thatare intimatelyrelated.Dimmesdale'smoral enemyis the forbidden
impulse,while his psychologicalenemyis guilt; but thereis
no practicaldifference
betweenthetwo,fortheyalwaysappear
We
understand
Hawthorne'sfull meaning if
may
together.
we identify
thepotentialinvaderofthecitadelas thelibidinal
bearinga chargeofguilt.
impulse,now necessarily
This hypothesis
us
helps to understandtherathersophisticated view of Dimmesdale's psychologythat Hawthorne's
metaphor implies. Dimmesdale's conscience (the watchful
guard)has been delegatedto preventrepetitionofthetemptation's"unforgotten
triumph."The deterrentweapon of conscienceis itscapacityto generatefeelingsofguilt,whichare of
coursepainfulto thesoul. Though the temptationretainsall
its strength(its demand forgratification),
thisis counterbalanced by its burden of guilt. To readmitthe libidinal imit in theoriginal
pulse throughtheguardedbreach(to gratify
way)would be to admitinsupportablequantitiesofguilt.The
soul thuskeepstemptationat baybymeetingit withan equal
and oppositeforceofcondemnation.
With thismuch enlightenment
we may turn to the most
arrestingfeatureof Hawthorne'smetaphor.The banished
impulse,thwartedin one direction,"mighteven,in his subsequent assaults,selectsome otheravenue, in preferenceto
thatwherehe had formerly
succeeded."Indeed, the logic of
Hawthorne'sfigureseemsto assuresuccessto the temptation
in findinganothermeansofentrance,sinceconscienceis massing all itsdefensesat thebreach.This deviousinvasionwould
thanthedirectone,forwe are told
evidentlybe lessgratifying
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE
RUINED
WALL
315
that the stealthyfoe would stay in readinessto attack the
breachagain. Some entry,nevertheless,
is preferableto none,
witha minimumresistespeciallywhen it can be effectuated
ance on thepartofconscience.Hawthornehas setup a strong
likelihoodthatthe libidinal impulsewill changeor disguise
itstrueobject,slip past theguardof consciencewithrelative
ease,and takeup a secretdwellingin thesoul.
In seekingto explainwhatHawthornemeansbythis"other
avenue" of invasion,we mustbear in mind the double reference ofhis metaphor.It describesthesoul's meansof combatof theguilty
ing bothsin and guilt-thatis, bothgratification
and
it.
consciousness
of
For
Dimmesdale
thegreatest
impulse
tormentis to acknowledgethathis libidinouswishesare really
fromtheDevil. His mentalenergyis
his,and nota temptation
directed,not simplyto avoidingsin,but to expellingit from
consciousness-ina word,to repressing
it. The "otheravenue"
is themeanshis libido chooses,giventhefactofrepression,
to
itselfsurreptitiously.
gratify
If we are thusobligedto introducethename of Freud,who
"discovered"repressionin thesenseof formulating
itsoperation in scientificterms,thereis no cause foralarm over the
anachronism.Hawthorne'smetaphor,in dividingthe psyche
into forcesthatoppose one anotherin dynamicbalance, alreadycontainsan implicittheoryof repression,and the substitutionof "ego," "superego,"and "libido" forHawthorne's
"soul," "watchfulguard,"and "stealthyfoe"does no injustice
to Hawthorne'smeaning.The followingaccount of Sandor
Ferenczi's makes the "Freudianism" of Hawthorne's idea
clear,and at the same timehelps us towarda solutionof the
problemat hand:
The healthypersonprotectshimselfsuccessfully
againstthereturn
of thesewishesand the suddenappearance of the objectsof desire
by erectingmoral rampartsround these "repressedcomplexes."
Feelingsofshameand disgustconceal fromhim all his lifethefact
that he still really cherishesthose despised,disgusting,shameful
thingsas wish-ideas.Things happen in thisway,however,onlywith
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE NEW ENGLAND QUARTERLY
of temperahealthypeople;butwhere,owingto somepeculiarity
thepsychic
mentortoogreata strainon thoseprotective
ramparts,
material"
mechanism
ofrepression
oftherepressed
fails,a "return
ofsymptoms
ofdisease.1
occurs,and withit theformation
316
If we grantthatHawthorne'smetaphorbearstheinterpretation I have givenit,we can saythatit is an even betterreflection of Freud's views than Ferenczi'sverysimilar passage.
Ferenczi (in an evangelisticlecture to skepticalphysicians)
was merelytryingto show that repressedwisheskeep their
in
vitalityin the unconsciousand are capable of re-emerging
the formof neuroticsymptoms
if repressionshould be weakened. Hawthorne,too, sees that the frustratedwish never
the breach cannot be receases its clamor forgratification;
guarded.But mostimportantly,
pairedand mustbe constantly
Hawthornedistinguishes
betweendirectand indirectgratification.When Ferenczisaysthata failureofrepressionleads to
"the formation
ofsymptoms
of disease,"he is oversimplifying
his own theoreticalprinciples.In Freudian theorythe symptomsof disease are produced as a compromisebetweenthe
unwelcomelibido and the ego, whichhas sufferedfromthe
libido's incessantdemands.The neuroticsymptomexpresses,
both the originalwishand the punishmentof that
therefore,
wish; in its ultimateformit is no longerrecognizableas an
embodimentoftheforbiddenwish,and forthisreasontheego
relentsin its censorship.What we have, then,in a neurotic
symptomis not a total failureof repression(which would
in undisguisedform)but a weakallow thewishto be gratified
ening of repression,contingentupon the libido's agreement
to change its object or its aim. If we were to suppose that
Hawthorneknew his Freud, we would find in the "other
avenue" into the citadel an excellentfigureforthis psychic
compromisethatissuesin neurosis.
Now, I need notbe remindedthatsuchscholasticreasoning
is dangerousand withoutevidentialvalue. Thus farwe have
but
provednothingabout ArthurDimmesdale'spsychology,
1Further Contributionsto the Theory and Technique of Psycho-Analysis
(London, 196o), 20.
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE RUINED WALL
317
have simplyindulged in a game of abstracttheorizing.We
can, however,alreadydrawa conclusionthatwill be helpful
in studyingthe only importantevidence-Dimmesdale'sbehavior.We can saythatHawthorne,whetheror nothis thinking anticipatesFreud's to the extentI believe, regardshis
characterswiththe same clinical interestthata psychologist
would assume. His metaphorof the besieged citadel cuts
beneath the theologicaland moral explanationsin which
Dimmesdale puts his faith,and shows us instead an inner
world of unconsciouscompulsion. Guilt will continue to
threatenDimmesdalein spite of his resolutionto escape it,
and indeed (as the fusionof "temptation"and "guilt" in the
metaphorimplies)thisresolutionwill onlyserveto upsetthe
balance of powerand enable guilt to conquer the soul once
more. Hawthorne'smetaphordemandsthatwe see Dimmesdale not as a freemoral agentbut as a victimof feelingshe
can neitherunderstandnorcontrol.And the pointcan be extended to include Chillingworthand even Hester, whose
mindshave been likewisealteredby the consequencesof the
act,thepermanentbreachin thewall. If,as Chilunforgotten
lingworthasserts,theawfulcourseof eventshas been "a dark
necessity"fromthe beginning,it is not because Hawthorne
believes in Calvinisticpredestinationor wants to imitate
Greektragedy,
but because all threeof the centralcharacters
have been ruled by motivesinaccessibleto their conscious
will.
As forthe morespecificimplicationswe have drawnfrom
Hawthorne'smetaphor,thesebegin to take on substanceas
we examineArthurDimmesdalein theforestscene.His nervousness,his mentalexhaustion,and his compulsivegestureof
placinghishand on hisheartreveala statethatwe would now
call neuroticinhibition.His lack ofenergyforanyof theoutward demandsof life indicateshow all-absorbingis his internaltrouble,and the awfulstigmaon his chest,thougha
rathercrasspiece of symbolism,
mustalso be interpreted
psyNor can we avoid observingthatDimmesdale
chosomatically.
shows the neurotic'spredictablereluctanceto give up his
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
318
THE NEW ENGLAND QUARTERLY
How else can we accountforhis obtusenessin not
symptoms.
character?"I mighthave
havingrecognizedChillingworth's
known it!" he murmurswhen Hester forcesthe revelation
upon him. "I did knowit! Was not the secrettold me in the
naturalrecoilofmyheart,at thefirst
sightofhim,and as often
as I have seen him since?Why did I not understand?"The
answer,hidden fromDimmesdale'ssurfacereasoning,is that
his relationshipwithChillingworth,
takentogetherwith the
changein mentaleconomythathasaccompaniedit,has offered
which he is even now powerlessto reperversesatisfactions
nounce.It is Hester,whosewill is relativelyindependentand
strong,whomakesthedecisionto breakwiththepast.
We can understandthe natureof Dimmesdale'sillnessby
definingthe stateof mind that has possessedhim forseven
years.It is,of course,his concealedact ofadulterythatlies at
thebottomofhis self-torment.
But whydoes he lack thecourage to make his humiliationpublic? Dimmesdale himself
offersus the clue in a cryof agony: "Of penance I have had
enough!Of penitencetherehas been none! Else, I shouldlong
ofmockholiness,and have
ago havethrownoffthesegarments
shownmyselfto mankindas theywill see me at thejudgmentseat." The plain meaningof thisoutburstis thatDimmesdale
has neversurmountedthe libidinal urge that produced his
sin. His "penance," includingself-flagellation
and the more
refinedtormentof submittingto Chillingworth'sinfluence,
has failedto purifyhimbecauseithas been unaccompaniedby
thefeelingofpenitence,theresolutionto sin no more.Indeed,
I submit,Dimmesdale'spenance has incorporatedand embodied the veryurge it has been punishing.If, as he says,he
has kepthis garmentsof mockholinessbecausehe has not repented,he mustmean thatin some way or anotherthe forbidden impulse has found gratification
in the existingcircumstances,in the existingstateof his soul. And thisstateis
one of morbidremorse.The stealthyfoe has re-enteredthe
citadelthroughtheavenue of remorse.
This conclusionmay seem less paradoxical if we bear in
mind a distinctionbetweenremorseand truerepentance.In
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE RUINED WALL
319
bothstatesthesinfulactis condemned
butin strict
morally,
the soul abandonsthe sin and turnsto holier
repentance
Remorse
ofDimmesdale's
thoughts.
type,on theotherhand,
isattached
toa continual
and
ofthesinin fantasy
re-enacting
hencea continualrenewalof theneed forself-punishment.
thepsychoanalyst
RogerChillingworth,
manqud,understands
theprocessperfectly:
"thefear,theremorse,
theagony,the
ineffectual
the
backward
of
sinful
rush
thoughts,
repentance,
in thissequenceis
expelledin vain!" The self-punishment
thatis,it containsan elementofpleasureor remasochistic;
lease,fortheotherwise
libido,havingdivertedits
repressed
aim fromsexualunionto aggression,
has diverteditsobject
fromHestertoDimmesdale's
ownego.
In plainerlanguage,
we maysaythatDimmesdale
is helplesstoreform
himself
at thisstagebecausethepassionalside
ofhisnaturehasfoundan outlet,albeita self-destructive
one,
in hispresent
miserable
situation.
The originalsexualdesire
has been grantedrecognitionon the conditionof beingpunNot
ished,and thepunishmentitselfis a formofgratification.
the
overt
of
masochism fasts,vigils,and self-scourging
only
(whichmakeshim laugh,by theway),but also Dimmesdale's
emaciationand wearinessattestto the spendingof his energy
againsthimself.It is importantto recognizethat this is the
same energypreviouslydevotedto passionforHester,forwe
shall see in thelastweekofhis lifethathe can indulgeeither
in that passion,or in masochisticremorse,or in the third
coursethathe eventuallyfindshimselfimpelledto follow.We
do notexaggeratethefactsofthenovelin sayingthatthequestion of Dimmesdale'sfate,for all its religious decoration,
amountsessentiallyto thequestionof whatuse is to be made
ofhis libido.
We arenowpreparedto understandthechoicethatthepoor
ministerfaceswhen Hesterholds out the idea of escape. It is
not a choice betweena totallyunattractivelife and a happy
one (not even Dimmesdalecould feelhesitationin thatcase),
but rathera choiceofsatisfactions,
ofavenuesintothecitadel.
The seeminglyworthlessalternativeof continuingto admit
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
320
THE NEW ENGLAND QUARTERLY
themorallycondemnedimpulsebythewayofremorsehas the
advantage,appreciatedby all neurotics,of preservingthe
statusquo. Still,theothercoursenaturallyseemsmoreattractive.If onlyrepressioncan be weakened-and thisis just the
task of Hester's rhetoricabout freedom-Dimmesdalecan
hope to returnto theprevious"breach"ofadultery.In reality,
however,thesealternativesofferno chance forhappinessor
even survival.The masochisticcourseleads straightto death,
while the other,whichDimmesdaleallows Hester to choose
forhim,is by now so foreignto his withered,guilt-ridden
naturethatit can neverbe put intoeffect.
The resolutionto sin
will, instead,necessarilyredouble the opposingforceof conscience,whichwill be strongerin proportionto the overtness
of the libidinal threat.As the concludingchaptersof The
ScarletLetterprove,theonlypossibleresultofthisattemptof
Dimmesdale's to impose, in Hawthorne'sphrase, "a total
and moralcode, in thatinteriorkingdom,"
changeofdynasty
will be a counterrevolutionso violent that it will slay
Dimmesdalehimselfalongwithhisupstartlibido.We thussee
thatin the forest,while Hesteris pratingof escape,renewal,
and success,ArthurDimmesdaleunknowingly
facesa choice
oftwopathsto suicide.
in itselfto reNow, thispsychologicalimpasseis sufficient
futethemost"liberal"criticsof The ScarletLetter-thosewho
take Hester'sproposalof escape as Hawthorne'sown advice.
Howevermuchwe mayadmireHesterand preferherboldness
to Dimmesdale'sself-pity,
we cannot agree that she understandshuman natureverydeeply. Her shame,despair,and
solitude"had made herstrong,"saysHawthorne,"but taught
her much amiss."What she principallyignoresis the truth
embodied in the metaphorof the ruined wall, thatmen are
alteredirreparablyby theirviolationsof conscience.Hester
herselfis onlyan apparentexceptionto thisrule. She handles
her guiltmoresuccessfully
than Dimmesdalebecause,in the
firstplace, her conscienceis less highlydeveloped than his;
and secondlybecause,as he tells her, "Heaven hath granted
theean open ignominy,
thattherebythoumayestworkout an
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE RUINED WALL
321
overtheevilwithin
andthesorrow
withthee,
opentriumph
out." Those who believe that Hawthorneis an advocate of
freelove,thatadulteryhas no ill effects
on a "normal"nature
like Hester's,have failedto observethatHester,too, undergoes self-inflicted
punishment.Though permittedto leave,
shehas remainedin Bostonnotsimplybecauseshewantsto be
nearArthurDimmesdale,but because thishas been thescene
of her humiliation."Her sin, her ignominy,were the roots
which she had struckinto the soil," says Hawthorne."The
chainthatbound herherewasofironlinks,and gallingto her
inmostsoul,but nevercould be broken."
We need not dwell on thisargument,in any event,forthe
liberal criticsof The ScarletLetterhave been in retreatfor
manyyears.Their place hasbeen takenbya moresophisticated
school,the Christianor "neo-orthodox"critics.Their view,
whichis mostfullyexpoundedin Roy R. Male's study,Hawthorne'sTragic Vision,is thatthe plot of The ScarletLetter
errorto
bringsus fromsin to redemption,frommaterialistic
truth.
The
moral
heart
of
the
novel,according
pure spiritual
to Male, is containedin Dimmesdale'sElection Sermon,and
Dimmesdale himselfis picturedas Christ-likein his holy
death.Hester,in comparison,degeneratesspirituallyafterthe
firstfewchapters;thefactthatherthoughtsare stillon earthly
love while Dimmesdaleis lookingtowardheaven is a serious
markagainsther. Indeed, Male sideswiththosespectatorsof
the finalscene who believe that theirsaintedpastorhas arrangedthemannerofhisdeathin theformofa usefulparable,
and thathe has chosento die in thearmsof Hester,thefallen
woman,onlyto illustrate"that,in theviewof InfinitePurity,
we are sinnersall alike." Chillingworth,
parasitethoughhe is,
be
understood
in
a
a
sense
as
healer,forhe enables
may
deeper
Dimmesdaleto achievethe"moralgrowth"thatculminatesin
his salvation.
This redemptivescheme,which restson the uncriticized
assumptionthatHawthorne'spoint of view is identicalwith
Dimmesdale'sat the end, seems to me to misrepresentthe
"felt life" of The Scarlet Letter more drasticallythan the
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
322
THE NEW ENGLAND QUARTERLY
liberal reading. Both interpretations
take for granted the
erroneousbeliefthatthenovelconsistsessentially
ofthedramatizationof a moral idea. The tale of human frailtyand sorrow,as Hawthornecalled it in his openingchapter,is treated
ofan articleoffaith.Hawthorne
merelyas thefictionalization
himself,we mightnote,did not sharethisabilityof his critics
to shrugoffthepsychological
realityofhis novel. The Scarlet
Letter is, he said, "positivelya hell-fired
story,into which I
foundit almostimpossibleto throwany cheeringlight."We
shallsee variouspointswheretheChristianreadingfailsto do
justice to this "hell-fired
story,"but it is more importantto
that
the
recognize
genericerroris thatof extractinga definitivemeaningfromthenovelbeforesensingthefullcomplexity
of itssituation.
Returningto the forestscene,then,we can appreciatethe
terribleironyof Dimmesdale'sexhilarationwhen he has resolvedto fleewithHester.Being,as Hawthornedescribeshim,
to whomit would alwaysremainessential
"a truereligionist,"
"to feelthepressureofa faithabout him,supporting,
whileit
confinedhimwithinitsironframework,"
he is ill-preparedto
savorhis new freedomforwhatit is. His joy is thatof his victoriouslibido,of the "enemy"whichis now presumablysacking thecitadel,but thisreleaseis acknowledgedby consciousnessonlyaftera significant
Bowdlerization:
"Do I feeljoy again?"criedhe, wonderingat himself."MethegermofitwasdeadinmelO Hester,thouartmybetter
thought
I
and sorrowsin-stained,
angel! seemto haveflungmyself-sick,
blackened-down
these
forest
and
to
risenup
have
leaves,
upon
all madeanew,andwithnewpowerstoglorify
Himthathathbeen
mercifull
This is alreadythebetterlifelWhydid we not findit
sooner?"
Hawthorne'sportrayalof self-delusionand his wealth of
compassionare nowhereso powerfullycombined as in this
passage.The Christianreferenceto theputtingon oftheNew
Man is grimlycomicin thelightofwhathas inspiredit,butwe
feelno moreurgeto laughat Dimmesdalethanwe do at Mil-
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE RUINED WALL
323
ton'sAdam.If in hisprevious
rolehe hasbeenonly,in Hawthorne's
but
a
herehe
phrase, "subtle, remorseful
hypocrite,"
is striving
tobe sincere.His casebecomespoignpathetically
ant to us as we imaginetherevengethathis tyrannical
consciencemustsoontakeon thesenewpromptings
of theflesh.
To saymerely
thatDimmesdale
error
isina stateoftheological
is tomisspartoftheirony;itisprecisely
histheological
loyalty
thatnecessitates
his confusion.
His sexualnaturemustbe
eitherdeniedwithunconscious
as in thisscene,or
sophistry,
rootedoutwithheroicfanaticism,
as in hispublicconfession
at theend.
On one point,however,
Dimmesdaleis notmistaken:he
has been blessedwitha new energyof bodyand will. The
sourceofthisenergy
isobviously
hissexual
hislibido,meaning
he
has
become
to
the
passion;
physically
degreethathe
strong
has ceaseddirecting
his passionagainsthimself
and has attachedit to histhoughts
ofHester.Butas he nowreturns
to
hishypocrisy
forthefourdaysuntil
town,bentuponrenewing
theElectionSermonhasbeengivenand theshipis tosail,we
see thathis "cure"hasbeenveryincomplete.
"At everystep
hewasincitedtodo somestrange,
wild,wickedthingorother,
witha sensethatit wouldbe at onceinvoluntary
and intenof
a
out
self
tional;inspiteofhimself,
yetgrowing
profounder
thanthatwhichopposedthe impulse."The ministercan
tohisyoungand old parishscarcely
keepfromblaspheming
ionersashepassestheminthestreet;
helongstoshocka deacon
and an old widowwitharguments
to
againstChristianity,
the
of
naive
innocence
a
who
him,to
poison
girl
worships
teachwickedwordsto a groupofchildren,
and to exchange
bawdyjestswitha drunkensailor.ThoughMale attributes
mostof theseurgesto Dimmesdale's
"rejectionof the old
rhetorical
a return
constitute
ofthe
theyevidently
discipline,"
and in a formwhichFreudnotedto be typicalin
repressed,
severelyholy persons.The factthattheseimpulseshave
reachedthesurface
ofDimmesdale's
mindattests
totheweakin
of
the
forest
and
scene,whiletheirperverse
ening repression
furtive
character
showsus thatrepression
has notceasedal-
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
324
THE NEW ENGLAND QUARTERLY
together.Hawthorne'sown explanation,that Dimmesdale's
hidden vices have been awakened because "he had yielded
himselfwithdeliberatechoice,as he had neverdone before,
towhathe knewwasdeadlysin" (italicsmine),givesconscience
its properrole as a causativefactor.Having leftHester'simmediateinfluencebehindin theforest,
and havingreturnedto
the societywherehe is knownforhis purity,Dimmesdalealreadyfindshis "wicked"intentionsconstrainedinto the form
of a verbalnaughtinesswhichhe cannot even bringhimself
to express.
Now Dimmesdale,aftera briefinterviewwiththetaunting
MistressHibbins,arrivesat hislodgings.Artfully
spurningthe
he eats his supper "with
attentionsof Roger Chillingworth,
ravenousappetite"and sitsdown to writethe Election Sermon. Without reallyknowingwhat wordshe is settingon
paper,and wonderingto himselfhow God could inspiresuch
a sinneras himself,he worksall night"withearnesthasteand
ecstasy."The resultis a sermonwhich,with the addition of
spontaneousinterpolationsin the delivery,will impressits
Puritanaudienceas an epitomeofholinessand pathos.Nothing less thanthedescentof the Holy Ghostwill be held suffiYet insofaras the
cient to accountforsuch a performance.
ElectionSermonwillconsistofwhatDimmesdalehas recorded
in his siege of "automaticwriting,"we mustdoubt whether
Hawthorne shares the credulous view of the Puritans.
Dimmesdalehas undergoneno change in attitudefromthe
timeofhis eccentricimpulsesin thestreetuntil thewritingof
thesermon.Though he worksin theroomwherehe has fasted
and prayed,and wherehe can see his old Bible, he is not (as
Male argues)sustainedby theseremindersof his faith.Quite
thecontrary:he can scarcelybelievethathe has everbreathed
such an atmosphere."But he seemedto standapart,and eye
thisformerselfwithscornful,pitying,but half-envious
curiThat
self
was
man
Another
had
returned
out
of
osity.
gone!
theforest;a wiserone; witha knowledgeof hiddenmysteries
whichthesimplicity
oftheformernevercould havereached."
In short,theElectionSermonis writtenby thesameman who
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE RUINED WALL
325
wantsto corruptyounggirlsin thestreet,and thesame newly
liberatedsexuality"inspires"himin bothcases.If thewritten
formof the Election Sermonis a greatChristiandocument,
as we have no reason to doubt, this is attributablenot to
Dimmesdale'sholinessbut to his libido,whichgiveshimcreative strengthand an intimateacquaintancewith the reality
of sin.
Thus Dimmesdale'ssexual energyhas temporarily
founda
new (but equally "Freudian") alternativeto its battle with
sublimation.In sublimationthelibido is
repression-namely,
not repressedbut redirectedto aims that are acceptable to
conscience.The writingof the Election Sermonis just such
an aim,and readerswho are familiarwithpsychoanalysis
will
not be puzzled to findthatDimmesdalehas passed without
hesitationfromthegreatestblasphemyto flights
ofpiety.The
that
Hawthornehad neverheard of sublimationis
objection
forhe is notillustrating
a psychologicaltheorybut
irrelevant,
his
intuitive
sense
of
human
character.To say that
obeying
Dimmesdalehas suddenlybecomereverentagain is to add to
thetext;all we reallyfindis thathe has turnedhis new-found
energyto thepurposeofliterarycreation.
There is little doubt, however,that Dimmesdale has recoveredhis pietyin the threedaysthatintervenebetweenthe
writingof the sermonand itsdelivery.Both Hesterand MistressHibbins "findit hardto believehim thesameman" who
emergedfromthe forest.Though he is deeply preoccupied
with his imminentsermonas he marchespast Hester,his
energyseemsgreaterthaneverand his nervousmannerismis
absent.We could say,ifwe liked,thatat thispointGod's grace
has alreadybegunto sustainDimmesdale,but thereis nothing
in Hawthorne'sdescriptiontowarranta resortto supernatural
explanations.It seemslikelythatDimmesdalehas by now felt
the full weightof his conscience'scase againstadultery,has
alreadydeterminedto confesshis previoussin publicly,and
so is no longersuffering
fromrepression.His libido is now
free,not to attachitselfto Hester,but to be sublimatedinto
thepassionofhis sermonand thenexpelledforever.
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
326
THE NEW ENGLAND QUARTERLY
The moral ironiesin Dimmesdale'ssituationas he leaves
the church,havingpreachedwithmagnificent
power,are exsubtle.
as
Hawthorne
has touched
His
tells
career,
us,
tremely
the proudesteminencethatany clergymancould hope to attain,yetthiseminenceis due, amongotherthings,to "a reputation of whitestsanctity."Furthermore,Hester has been
silentlytormentedby a curious mob while Dimmesdalehas
been preaching,and we feeltheinjusticeof thecontrast.And
yetDimmesdalehas alreadymade the choice thatwill render
him worthyof the praise he is now receiving.If his public
withhimhas not yetbeen dissolved,his hypocrisy
hypocrisy
self is over. It would be small-mindednot to recognizethat
Dimmesdalehas, afterall, achieved a point of heroic independence-an independencenot only of his fawningcongreresentsit. If theChrisgationbut also of Hester,who frankly
tian readingof The ScarletLetterjudges Hestertoo roughly
on theologicalgrounds,it is at leastcorrectin seeingthatshe
lacks the detachmentto appreciateDimmesdale'sfinalact of
courage.While sheremainson thesteadylevelofherwomanly
Dimmesdale,who has previouslystoopedbelow his
affections,
ordinarymanhood,is nowreadyto act withtheexaltedfervor
ofa saint.
All themoralambiguityof The ScarletLettermakesitself
feltin Dimmesdale'smomentofconfession.We maytrulysay
thatno one has a totalviewofwhatis happening.The citizens
of Boston,forwhomit would be an "irreverent"thoughtto
connecttheirministerwithHester,turnto variousrationalizationsto avoid comprehending
thescene.Hesteris bewildered,
and Pearl feelsonly a generalizedsense of grief.But what
about ArthurDimmesdale?Is he reallyon his way to heaven
as he proclaimsGod's mercyin hisdyingwords?
He hathprovedhismercy,
mostofall,in myafflictions.
Bygiving
torture
tobearuponmybreast!Bysendingyonder
methisburning
old man,to keepthetorture
darkand terrible
alwaysat red-heat!
to
die
this
death
of
me
hither,
Bybringing
triumphant
ignominy
beforethepeople!Had eitheroftheseagoniesbeenwanting,
I had
beenlostforever!Praisedbehisname!His willbe done!Farewell!
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE RUINED WALL
327
This reasoning,whichsoundsso cruel to the ear of rational
humanism,has the logic of Christiandoctrinebehind it; it
restson the paradox thata man mustlose his life to save it.
The question that the neo-orthodoxinterpretersof The
ScarletLetterinvariablyignore,however,is preciselywhether
Hawthornehas preparedus to understandthisscene only in
doctrinalterms.Has he abandoned his usual ironyand lost
himselfin religioustransport?
The question ultimatelyamounts to a matterof critical
method: whetherwe are to take the action of The Scarlet
Letterin naturalor supernaturalterms.Hawthorneoffers
us
naturalisticexplanationsforeverything
thathappens in the
novel,and thoughhe also putsforthoppositetheories-Pearl
is an elf-child,MistressHibbins is a witch,and so on-this
modeofthinkingis discreditedbythesimplicity
ofthepeople
who employit. We cannotconscientiously
that
say
Chillingworthis a devil,forexample,whenHawthornetakessuchcare
to showus how his devilishnesshas proceededfromhis physical deformity,
his senseof inferiority
and impotence,his sexual jealousy,and his pervertedcravingforknowledge.Hawthornecarriessymbolismto the borderof allegorybut does
not crossover. As for Dimmesdale'sretrospective
idea that
God's mercyhas been responsiblefor the whole chain of
events,we cannotabsolutelydenythatthismaybe true; but
we can remarkthatif it is true,Hawthornehas vitiatedhis
otherwisebrilliantstudyof motivation.
Nothingin Dimmesdale'sbehavioron the scaffoldis inas we firstsaw it in the forest
congruouswithhis psychology
scene.We merelyfindourselvesat theconclusionto thebreakdownofrepressionthatbeganthere,and whichhas necessarily
broughtabout a renewalof oppositionto the forbiddenimpulses.Dimmesdalehas been heroicin choosingto eradicate
his libidinal selfwith one stroke,but his heroismfollowsa
soundprincipleofmentaleconomy.Furtherrepression,
which
is theonlyotheralternativeforhis conscience-ridden
nature,
would onlylead to a slowerand morepainfuldeath through
masochisticremorse.Nor can we help but see thathis confes-
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
328
THE NEW ENGLAND QUARTERLY
sion,as we mightexpectfroma scenein whichthesuperegois
toheapvengeanceon theid,passesbeyonda humbleadmission
ofsinfulnessand touchesthe pathological.His stigmahas become thecentralobjectin theuniverse:"God's eyebeheld it!
The angels were foreverpointingat it! The Devil knew it
well,and frettedit continuallywiththe touchof his burning
fingerl"Dimmesdaleis so obsessedwithhis own guiltthathe
negatestheChristiandogmaoforiginalsin: "beholdme here,
the one sinnerof the worldl" This strainof egoism in his
"triumphantignominy"does not subtractfromhis courage,
but it castsdoubt on his theorythatall the precedingaction
has been stagedby God forthepurposeof savinghis soul.
Howevermuch we may admireDimmesdale'sfinalasceticism,thereare no groundsfortakingit as Hawthorne'smoral
of plot in The ScarletLetterapideal. The lastdevelopments
the
which
critics
"mythiclevel"
proach
redemption-minded
love to discover,but the mythicismis wholly secular and
worldly.Pearl, who has hithertobeen a "messengerof anas she kisses
guish"to hermother,is emotionallytransformed
Dimmesdaleon the scaffold."A spell was broken.The great
sceneof grief,in whichthe wild infantbore a part,had developed all her sympathies;and as her tearsfell upon her
father'scheek,theywere the pledge thatshe would growup
amid humanjoy and sorrow,nor forever do battlewith the
beworld,but be a womanin it." Thanks to Chillingworth's
that
a
finds
is
broken
when
too,
quest-forChillingworth,
spell
Dimmesdaleconfesses,
and he is capable of at leastone generous act beforehe dies-Pearl is made "the richestheiressof
herday,in theNew World."At lastreportshehas becomethe
wifeofa Europeannoblemanand is livingveryhappilyacross
the sea. This grandioseand perhapsslightlywhimsicalepion thereader:it takeshim as
logue has one undeniableeffect
faras possiblefromthesceneand spiritof Dimmesdale'sfarewell. Pearl's immensewealth,her noble title,her lavishand
impracticalgiftsto Hester,and ofcoursehersuccessfulescape
fromBostonall serveto disparagethePuritansenseofreality.
From thisdistancewe look back to Dimmesdale'segocentric
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
THE RUINED WALL
329
confession,not as a moral examplewhichHawthornewould
like us to follow,but as thelastlink in a chain ofcompulsion
thathas now been dissolved.
To counterbalancethis impressionwe have the case of
can neverbe comHester,forwhomthedramaon thescaffold
After
over.
Pearl
more
in a
raising
generousatmospletely
phere,she voluntarilyreturnsto Bostonto resume,or rather
to begin,herstateof penitence.We mustnote,however,that
this penitenceseems to be devoid of theologicalcontent;
Hesterhas returnedbecauseBostonand thescarletletteroffer
her"a morereallife"thanshecould findelsewhere,evenwith
Pearl. This simplyconfirms
Hawthorne'semphasison the irof
acts.
And
revocability guilty
thoughHester is now selfless
and humble,it is not because she believes in Christiansubmissivenessbut because all passion has been spent. To the
womenwho seekherhelp "in thecontinuallyrecurringtrials
ofwounded,wasted,wronged,misplaced,or erringand sinful
passion,"Hesterdoes not disguiseherconvictionthatwomen
are pathetically
in hersociety.She assuresher
misunderstood
wretchedfriendsthatat somelaterperiod"a new truthwould
be revealed,in orderto establishthe whole relationbetween
man and woman on a surerground of mutual happiness."
Hawthornemayor maynot believe theprediction,but it has
a retrospective
importancein The ScarletLetter.Hawthorne's
charactersoriginallyacted in ignoranceof passion'sstrength
and persistence,
and so theybecameitsslaves.
Let us admit,then,thatHawthorneis farfromsharingthe
Puritanseverityin mattersof sex. It is an obviouspoint,and
to saythatthisis the "meaning"of The ScarletLetterwould
be as superficialas to see everything
throughthedarkglassof
Dimmesdale's theology.Hawthornehimself,in explaining
whywe should not judge Roger Chillingworthtoo harshly,
givesa clinicalanalysisofpassionwhichremovesanylingering
basisforreducingthenovelto one moralprogramor another.
"It is a curioussubjectof observationand inquiry,"he says,
"whetherhatredand love be not the same thingat bottom.
Each, in its utmostdevelopment,supposesa high degreeof
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
330
THE NEW ENGLAND QUARTERLY
each rendersone individual
intimacyand heart-knowledge;
his
and spirituallifeupon
dependentforthefoodof affections
another;each leaves the passionatelover,or the no less passionatehater,forlornand desolateby the withdrawalof his
wordsremindus thatthe tragedy
object." These penetrating
of The ScarletLetter has chieflysprung,not fromPuritan
society'simpositionof falsesocial ideals on the threemain
but fromtheirown innerworldof frustrated
decharacters,
sires.Hester,Dimmesdale,and Chillingworth
havebeen ruled
by feelingsonly half perceived,much less understoodand
and thesefeelings,
as Hawthorne's
regulatedbyconsciousness;
bold equation of love and hatredimplies,successfully
resist
translationinto termsofgood and evil. Hawthorneleaves us,
not withthe Sunday-school
lessonthatwe should
ultimately,
"be true,"butwitha taleofpassionthroughwhichwe glimpse
the ruinedwall-the terriblecertaintythat,as Freud put it,
theego is notmasterin itsown house. It is thisintuitionthat
enables Hawthorneto reach a tragicvision worthyof the
name: to see to thebottomofhis createdcharacters,
to understandthe innernecessityof everything
theydo, and thus to
pity and forgivethem in the veryact of layingbare their
weaknesses.
This content downloaded on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:26:13 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions