In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter, the character of the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale has vivid and dramatic character traits which are revealed throughout the plot. Arthur can easily be described as a solitudinarian, a masochist, and a passionate character. These, as well as other, traits added to the distinctiveness of the character and added to the novel.

The novel exemplifies the many ways in which Arthur Dimmesdale is a solitudinarian. Though he did not cut himself off from society, he places himself in exile for his sins. Because "[his scarlet letter] burns in secret," he bears his shame alone. In chapter 12, Arthur stands alone on the scaffold as a form of his self-inflicted punishment. He must do it at night so that no one can see him. The final way in which he displays his isolation is the way in which he confesses his sin. Although Hester...