Comparison to other works

[saseitz38]

In Chapter 3, I found that Reverend Dimmesdale’s demand of Hester Prynne to reveal the name of her child’s father reflects Judge Danforth’s demand of John Proctor to reveal the names of those associated with the Devil in The Crucible. Dimmesdale tells Hester, “Heaven hath granted thee an open ignominy, that thereby thou mayest work out an open triumph over the evil within thee, and the sorrow without” (65). Thus, he explains that Hester can redeem herself and release some of her sin if she chooses to terminate her secrecy. Similarly, Danforth tries to convince Proctor that naming names is a holy act that will lead him to salvation. However, both Hester and Proctor choose to remain silent. They accept the fact that they are sinners and take pride in not tainting the names of others.

What are other comparisons that can be made to The Crucible or other works?

[dacui38]

I too found myself relating to Jonathan Edward's "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God" when John Wilson tries to convince Hester to confess the name of the father of the child. As we have talked about in class, Wilson uses the persuasion of fear a similar fashion to how Edwards uses paranoia and fear to garner support for Puritanism, which is very ironic. Wilson threatens damnation for Hester, lest she name the father of the child which is similar to Edwards threatening damnation for the proverbial 'sinners' unless they convert to Puritanism.

I agree that Hester is similar to Proctor when they are asked to name names in both their situations and their response.

[jiyang35]

I understand what your argument is but I disagree with the fact the Reverend Dimmesdale is that similar to Danforth. Personally, I found Danforth to be abusing the tyranny of consensus trying to maintain power. He was conscious of his decisions and from the given evidence so far, Reverend Dimmesdale was actually put on the spot when Governor Bellingham told him the “‘responsibility of this woman’s soul lies greatly with [him]’” (Hawthorne 64). Once this was stated the entire audience turned their eyes onto Dimmesdale and waited for a response. Similar to the helpless characters of The Crucible, Dimmesdale could have just responded in a manner approvable by the rest of the town. If anything it would be Mr. Wilson who is more like Danforth because unlike Dimmesdale, he cannot accept the fact that Hester will not expose the name. For this reason he cries out “‘Speak out the name! That, and thy repentance, may avail to take the scarlet letter off thy breast’” (Hawthorne 66).

[dacui38]

Reverend Dimmesdale can be related to both Hale and Danforth, but this comparison is purely subjective. Danforth wanted a confession from Proctor because he needed to maintain his power and position in society that he gained from the crisis. In a similar fashion, Dimmesdale must get Hester to name the father because of his position in society. You mentioned above how he was put on the spot by Bellingham and the spectators. The approvable manner in this case would be to preach to Hester, nothing less or he would instantly lose respect and in a sense, his position. Therefore it was his duty to convince Hester. But not only his duty, it was perhaps his morals too, and thus I can find Dimmesdale similar to Hale who seeks names from Proctor in order to save him [which is the morally right thing to do].
You do have a point in the reactions of Mr. Wilson and Danforth being similar in their intolerance of silence from the victims.
In spite of all I just said, I merely see the situation and responses of Hester and Proctor are somewhat similar.