Explain how Dimmesdale's guilt can be attributed to his Puritanical heritage and Puritan society.

Guilt is a strong theme in Hawthorne's The
Scarlet Letter. In general terms, decisions are based on the combined
experiences that an individual has been exposed to. Looking at Arthur Dimmesdale, I
believe that his guilt cannot help but originate based first upon
his religious upbringing, but is then reinforced by way of society.
Both things affect Dimmesdale's grief, but because there is no separation between his
upbringing and society—both being grounded in Puritanical
theology—the two elements are join to press obedience on the righteous, and guilt on
sinners (which realistically should apply to
everyone in the congregation).

The
first and therefore greater source of guilt is more readily understood in light of the
following scripture. Proverbs 22:6 says:

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Train up a child in the way he should go: and
when he is old, he will not depart from
it.

We can assume that when
Dimmesdale sleeps with Hester, he is not turning his back on his faith—he is making a
serious mistake, especially in light of what he has been taught growing up and what
society demands of its members. Adultery was a serious crime among the Puritans. While
some who committed adultery were executed, some were not. For example, Hester is spared
because she is pregnant.

Dimmesdale never comes forth to
claim responsibility in their affair, so his community does not punish him.
However, his upbringing is such that the guilt he endures comes
from his own recognition of his transgression. His punishment is
much harsher than those society could have devised (unless they had killed him) because
Dimmesdale punishes himself unceasingly with physically assaults against his body, like
beating. He also suffers emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
While I believe that the theocracy that rules the community in which he lives stresses
the importance of living a moral life, I believe the guilt begins based upon his
upbringing and then is continually reinforced by society. I see no
way to separate the two, but feel that the teachings of Puritanism that he was raised
with have a stronger effect on him.

A clear indication as
to the depth of Dimmesdales' guilt is found as
follows:

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...By the constitution of his nature, he loved
the truth, and loathed the lie, as few men ever did. Therefore, above all things else,
he loathed his miserable self.