Ironically, because he feels like such a sinner, Dimesdale's sermons become more fiery and effective. In addition, people believe he is holy because many times on the pulpit he confesses that is the worst of sinners. What he always plans on doing is going on and confessing he is the father of Pearl. But, he never does. So people assume that if such a good man thinks he is an awful sinner, he must be some kind of saint. His self-torture includes all night prayer vigils, fasting obsessively, and flogging (or hitting) himself with a whip. Of course, these forms of physical torture cannot curse a malady that is basically psychological and caused by guilt. The only cure for that is to confess his guilt to his congregation. Unfortunately, Dimmesdale loves the admiration of the people and cannot bring himself to do the one thing that would free his conscious.
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