Question

What does Dimmesdale mean when he says, "Oh Hester, what a thought is that, and how to dread it! That my own features were part reflected in her face, and so strikingly that the world might see them!"

Answer 1

Dimmesdale is expressing his fear and dread that his secret relationship with Hester and his identity as Pearl's father will be exposed to the world.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel 'The Scarlet Letter,' Dimmesdale's statement, 'Oh Hester, what a thought is that, and how to dread it! That my own features were part reflected in her face, and so strikingly that the world might see them!' refers to the revelation that Hester Prynne's daughter, Pearl, bears a resemblance to him. Dimmesdale is expressing his fear and dread that his secret relationship with Hester and his identity as Pearl's father will be exposed to the world. He is troubled by the idea that his hidden sin is visibly reflected in Pearl's features, making their connection noticeable to others.