9-12

These chapters really stress the enormity of the church in Puritan society.  Dimmesdale is the symbol of the church as the religious leader in the Puritan settlement.  As the truth about Dimmesdale is revealed he becomes a figure of corruption and sin to the reader, however this corruption is hidden from the public of the society.
Hawthorne's criticism of the Puritan society in the religious aspect is immensely revealed in this area of the novel.  Society and religion are one in the same with these people.  Every daily action and encounter with neighbors are formed by the church.  Those viewed as in favor with God were though well of in the society, and sinners were the sum of the earth, below everyone.  Dimmesdale being the religious leader is granted celebrity status.  Being in favor with God the public finds no fault with him and find it hard to believe anything that would taint his reputation.  The first case of this is the public's view of Chillingworth moving in with Dimmesdale.  A portion of the Public loved the idea that a Doctor could improve the health of their religious leader like the hand of God lifting him up to better help the public find god.  The other portion of the public viewed the doctor as a changed man who is the Devil in disguise trying to bring down the holiness of their society, this shown as the narrator states,  "that heaven had wrought an absolute miracle, by transporting an eminent Doctor of Physic, from a German university, bodily through the air, and setting him down at the door of Mr. Dimmsdale's study! Individuals of wiser faith, indeed, who knew that Heaven promotes its purposes without aiming at the stage effect of what is called miraculous interposition, were inclined to see a providential hand in Rodger Chillingworth's so opportune arrival." (Hawthorne 110).  Either way Dimmesdale is put on a pedestal being in favor with God, while is physical and mental health is not questioned.  The second instance of the public's inability to find fault with Dimmesdale in in his speeches.  He tells the congregation how vile he is while fighting the pain in his soul from his sin, but they do not believe him, he is venerated by the citizens.
With Dimmesdale being revealed as the father of Pearl Hawthorne shows that even infallible characters in the eyes of society can be not what they appear.  With Dimmesdales thought, "'I, your pastor, whom you so reverence and trust, am utterly a pollution and a lie!"' (Hawthorne 131).  This passage sums up Hawthorne's criticism of this society tries to reveal that even the most respected figures can have flaws so big they may shatter society.  If Dimmesdale was to reveal himself as this sinner, he would not only fall but the society so based on this perfect church that is a guide and goal for all lives would be invalid for everything they worked for was corrupt.
A thread from this to daily life is Martha Stewart.  She for a long time represented this flawless figure in domestic life that many woman strived to be.  With a long term reputation of having impeccable taste in home decoration, Martha was a guru in this field.  As all of us should know no one is perfect, all of us have flaws may others see them or not.  In Martha's case her flaw destroyed her credibility with so much public pressure.  In her stock sale scandal she was thrown in jail as her reputation as an infallible character was thrown away.  This relates to Dimmesdales reputation in the colony and how he would fall if it came out to the public.