The human mind is a clever being. It can sometimes trick itself into thinking what isn’t true. Whether it’s for an idea of neglect or refusal to accept the truth, this convincing mechanism can obscure the mind from seeing what it really sees. A common example of this at work is the occurrence of the passing away of a loved one. More commonly known as denial, a person refuses to receive that they’ve lost something they loved. In a sense, it is a defensive response in order to protect his or her special person. This trickery that the mind plays is used to keep that person alive for just a few more fleeting moments. Although the person’s eyes could have seen the person move on from life, or clearly hear the news of their death, their mind and feelings override the logical concrete truth.
Dimmesdale publicly reveals his sin to the town. He stands atop of the scaffold brandishing his own scarlet letter upon his chest. Despite his physical proof and own verbal proclamation of his faults, the town continues to revere him and even claim to themselves that had not seen the scarlet letter. Society had fallen for a trap that Dimmesdale was imprisoned in for the last 7 years of his life. In a sense, this also seems to be a form of mob mentality. People believe as society wants them to believe, that their minister died a lasting death to demonstrate society the wrongs of sin, rather than the truth of a man fallen too deep into his self-pleasures, trying to desperately reclaim a fragment of his integrity.
Dimmesdale publicly reveals his sin to the town. He stands atop of the scaffold brandishing his own scarlet letter upon his chest. Despite his physical proof and own verbal proclamation of his faults, the town continues to revere him and even claim to themselves that had not seen the scarlet letter. Society had fallen for a trap that Dimmesdale was imprisoned in for the last 7 years of his life. In a sense, this also seems to be a form of mob mentality. People believe as society wants them to believe, that their minister died a lasting death to demonstrate society the wrongs of sin, rather than the truth of a man fallen too deep into his self-pleasures, trying to desperately reclaim a fragment of his integrity. 
Interesting connection to mob mentality! Your final sentence was very powerful, I completely agree with it. In the end, his own cowardice and society trapped him, and breaking free led to death because he did not come out right away.
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