The Conflicts in Arthur Dimmesdale

摘要

Conflict theory is one of the most plausible theories to be adapted to the analysis of the protagonist's inner heart activities and outer behaviors. From the perspective of conflict theory, Arthur Dimmesdale, the heavily psychic tortured priest in the scarlet letter, is actually the most important figure in the fiction. This importance is rendered by three conflicts, the conflict in Dimmesdale's inner heart, the conflict between Dimmesdale and Hester and Chillingworth, the conflict between Dimmesdale and the puritan society.