Final answer:
Reverend Dimmesdale in 'The Scarlet Letter' believes the public shaming and the scarlet letter will prevent Hester from sinning further.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the character Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale from Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter. In the context of the book, Dimmesdale believes that Hester Prynne's public shaming for her sin of adultery will prevent her from going deeper into sin. He thinks that the scarlet letter she is forced to wear, along with the community's condemnation, is a sort of penance that will keep her on a righteous path. Dimmesdale himself grapples with his undisclosed sin and his part in Hester’s situation, which puts him in a complex position when discussing sin and redemption.