How does Arthur Dimmesdale secretly punish himself in the isolation of his study to cope with his unconfessed guilt?
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Correct answer: He fasts until he wastes away, keeps midnight vigils, and scourges his flesh with a whip.
Driven by intense psychological guilt, Dimmesdale turns to physical self-mortification to punish his hypocrisy. He uses a scourge, deprives himself of food, and stares into a mirror during sleepless night vigils, hallucinating spectral judgments. These hidden acts highlight the destructive contrast between his spotless public reputation and his inner torment.
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