Arthur, Tragic Hero or Merely Tragic (The Scarlet Letter)

Arthur: Tragic Hero or Merely Tragic? In Nathaniel Hawthorne's torrid tale of The Scarlet Letter, Arthur Dimmesdale, a main character, is confronted with a number of circumstances, both in and out of his control, that lead to his ultimate demise. While it can be argued that Arthur is a tragic hero, he lacks the underlying goodness and strength essential for him to fulfill this role. Otherwise, it may be demonstrated that Arthur meets all the …

…that his story is tragic of its own accord, but that it incites pity for him is questionable. Arthur, while being significantly flawed and quite aware of it, does end up destroyed as a man, but that he was ever much of a man to begin with is arguable as well. Therefore, Arthur Dimmesdale cannot, in fairness, be viewed as a tragic hero, for he falls short of the qualifications expected of such a role.