Quote Response #3-The Scarlet Letter

    In chapter nine of, The Scarlet Letter, there is a quote that I believe applies to many people throughout the world. This quote can be found on page 106 and reads, “Wherever there is a heart and an intellect, the diseases of the physical frame are tinged with the peculiarities of these.” I believe that this quote is designed to mean that when people have guilty feelings stored in their hearts and minds, then as a consequence their physical health may also be effected. People who live for long periods of time with guilt lodged within themselves may suddenly stop taking care of their health because all they can think about are all the wrong doings in their lives. It is as if their guilt is a demon which takes over everything they do and everything they think about.
    This is obviously very true when it comes to poor Mr. Arthur Dimmesdale. He has wronged Hester Prynne, as well as the innocent, young Pearl because he has never publicly acknowledged the fact that he is Pearl’s father. While it is understandable why he would wish to keep their affair a secret, I believe he should own up to it for the sake of Pearl. In a way, he probably does wish that he could just come out with the truth and this is probably what causes his poor health. It is a situation of easier said than actually done. Until he actually owns up to his wrong doing, his health will surely do nothing more than decline.
    Personally I find this quote to be rather significant because many people can relate to it. I know that in my life, whenever I am feeling guilty about something I have to quickly own up to it or else it will slowly consume me. Although my guilt typically does not cause health issues, partly because I own up to my wrong doings quickly, I figure that some people are not so lucky. No matter how many times I have tried to put my guilty feelings out of my mind, they always find their way back in until I stop and fix the situation. I know that I can easily relate to this quote and surely others who do not enjoy living with a guilty conscious would be able to as well.